Bangkok: The 69th budget meeting faced disruption as the quorum failed, causing significant concerns among members of the People’s Party. Ms. Rakchanok Srinok, a Member of Parliament for Bangkok and vice chairperson of the special committee for the fiscal year 2026 budget bill, expressed her dissatisfaction with the process, highlighting difficulties in obtaining necessary documents and the challenges posed by the opposition’s ranking in committee positions.

According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Rakchanok detailed issues that arose during the meeting, including the rejection of document requests and the struggle to have essential policy matters explained by the government. She emphasized the importance of live broadcasts for transparency, which were opposed, and noted the prohibition of using a colleague’s voice clip for questioning-actions that complicated the committee’s work. Ms. Rakchanok stated that the opposition’s only tool, the quorum count, is ineffective if the majority does not attend meetings.

Ms. Sirikanya Tansakul, another MP and deputy leader of the Prachachon Party, apologized to civil servants for disruptions caused by the quorum failure. She explained that the situation was not a deliberate political game but a strategy for negotiation and ensuring smoother operations. She stressed the need for government cooperation in meetings to avoid delays and emphasized the importance of live broadcasting to maintain accountability.

Ms. Sirikanya also addressed speculation about internal government issues linked to the quorum failure, stating that it was a known problem that intensified as meetings progressed. She expressed concerns about the lack of engagement from government members, which left opposition members feeling isolated during late-night sessions.

Both Ms. Rakchanok and Ms. Sirikanya pointed out that the opposition’s presence at meetings was often limited due to other commitments, affecting quorum numbers. They reiterated the need for all committee members to actively participate to ensure that discussions and decisions are conducted efficiently.

The opposition raised concerns about potential irregularities in budget allocations, with Ms. Sirikanya indicating that such matters should be investigated further. She highlighted the necessity of scrutinizing projects funded in the 2024 budget to ensure transparency and accountability.

In response to questions about live streaming the meetings, Ms. Sirikanya confirmed that the People’s Party is considering it and highlighted its importance for public scrutiny of how taxpayer money is being managed.