Thailand's budget bill of $106 billion passed narrowly by MPs

Thailand’s House of Representatives passed the 2020 budget bill on October 19 by a narrow margin after 235 lawmakers decided to abstain from the voting process. The budget bill of around $106 billion was passed after an intense three-day debate. There were 250 members in favour of the bill while no one voted against it. 

Abstaining from vote

Although the Opposition called the bill "ineffective", they decided to abstain from voting against the bill. Notably, the current budget bill is the highest allocation in Thailand’s history. The budget went through scrutiny by a 64-member budget committee before it returned to the house for final reading. The passed bill will now be forwarded to the Senate which is a non-partisan chamber and has limited legislative powers. The upper house forbids its member from holding any additional office.

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Holding power through small margin

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, before the voting, said that the bill was devised to reduce social disparity, improve the people's quality of life and upgrade the country's competitiveness, among other things. Currently, the government holds the power with a small margin in a 500-member House of Representatives. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is running a coalition government with the help of the Democrat Party, Bhumjaithai and other smaller parties. The Palang Pracharat, Chan-o-cha’s party, has ties with the National Council for Peace and Order which ruled the country after the 2014 coup.

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Challenges for the Prime Minister

In July, Chan-ocha gave his first policy statement after five years as an unchallenged junta leader. “We must move our country forward through progress, stability, discipline in Thai society, unity and generosity,” Thai Prime Minister told the parliament session. “The quality of Thai people’s lives must improve and we must be ready for life in the 21st century,” he added. The necessity to elaborate on the policy for the first time rose from the fact that the 500 members of the House of Representatives replaced an appointed assembly in March.

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(With Inputs from Agencies)