Bangkok: Somchai-Chanchai-Lawyer Nok Khao has questioned the NACC 30 days post-submission to the Constitutional Court, seeking the removal of the "Cabinet of Settha-Paethongtarn" and current "MPs-Senators" for alleged misconduct involving budget adjustments of 68 parts. These adjustments were reportedly used to settle debts and distribute 10,000 baht, with additional budget documents submitted, aiming for a precedent-setting judgment to prevent budget misuse for electoral gains.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Chanchai Issarasenarak, a former Democrat MP, joined by Mr. Somchai Saengkaew, a former Senator, and Mr. Nitithorn Lamluea, an activist, pursued the NACC to expedite forwarding their petition to the Constitutional Court. They argue that the Cabinet's actions breached Section 144 of the Constitution and Section 88 of the Organic Act on Corruption Prevention and Suppression. The case involves reallocating a 35 billion baht budget, initially designated for principal loan repayment under Section 28 of the Fiscal Discipline Act, to fund an economic stimulus project, including a 10,000 baht digital wallet distribution.
Mr. Chanchai highlighted the need for opinions from the Council of State, the Bank of Thailand, and the NACC, stressing the importance of adhering to Section 28, which earmarked funds for debt repayment. The budget cut means the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) lacks funds to settle debts, impacting its borrowing capacity to address low agricultural product prices. This situation, he argues, amounts to mismanagement, adversely affecting farmers and necessitating a Constitutional Court ruling to guide politicians on appropriate conduct and prevent self-serving legal interpretations that harm national interests.
Mr. Chanchai warned that if unchecked, future budgetary cuts could lead to fiscal irresponsibility, emphasizing that such actions contravene directives from past constitutions and risk national economic stability. He criticized attempts to prioritize vote-winning distributions over responsible governance, referencing international criticisms of similar practices.
Mr. Somchai marked the submission's one-month anniversary by providing additional documents to reinforce the importance of Section 144, which prohibits reallocating debt payment funds for other uses. He noted the Cabinet's resolution to redistribute these funds, asserting it constitutes a clear offense as the third planned distribution is now unfeasible due to their intervention.