Bangkok: Wisut Chainarun, a Pheu Thai Party list MP and chairman of the Government Coalition Coordinating Committee, expressed confidence in the ongoing budget discussions, emphasizing that the first 69 days proceeded without any need for deadline extensions. He insisted that government support remained strong, despite routine opposition disagreements over the 2026 Budget Bill.

According to Thai News Agency, Wisut commented on the recent House of Representatives meeting, highlighting that the proceedings for the 2nd and 3rd readings of the budget bill went smoothly and without any issues. He noted that all relevant ministers, who are also MPs, were present, and several members, despite being unwell, made efforts to participate in the voting process. The meeting concluded with the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives budget, and Wisut anticipated continued cooperation from both opposition and government MPs in the upcoming sessions.

Wisut addressed concerns about the potential need to extend the deliberation period, dismissing them by affirming that the timeline was sufficient. He emphasized the importance of cooperation between the opposition and government to ensure effective time management. Wisut also downplayed the possibility of the bill being rejected, stressing that all parties understood the consequences of such an outcome and expressing confidence in the government’s preparedness.

Responding to allegations made by Ms. Sirikanya Tansakul regarding vote-buying by the opposition, Wisut challenged her to provide evidence, including names or video clips, to support her claims. He assured that as a member of the House Ethics Committee, he would investigate any unethical behavior. Wisut dismissed the notion that the 10-vote surplus required vote-buying, describing the cost as prohibitively high and asserting that the current vote count was sufficient.

Wisut remarked that accusations and debates are common in politics but stressed the importance of addressing them transparently. He called for openness and accountability to remove unethical actors from politics, reiterating the need for politicians to focus on addressing poverty rather than internal disputes.