PM willing to wear crisis loan flak

Anutin defends cost as decree comes into force

PUBLISHED : 10 May 2026 at 05:20

WRITER: Post Reporters

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Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul vowed to take full responsibility should the government's 400-billion-baht loan programme fail to deliver results or cause damage, after the emergency decree authorising the borrowing came into force.

Mr Anutin on Saturday defended the government's decision to invoke the emergency decree on borrowing to address the impact of the energy crisis and support the country's energy transition, insisting the funds would be spent directly for the benefit of the public without leakages or unnecessary intermediary projects.

The decree, published in the Royal Gazette on Saturday and effective immediately, authorises the Finance Ministry to borrow up to 400 billion baht by Sept 30, 2027, to address economic and social impacts arising from rising global energy prices and the country's energy transition.

Under the decree, 200 billion baht will be allocated to relief measures aimed at easing the burden on households, farmers and businesses affected by the energy crisis. The rest will fund long-term energy transition projects, including renewable energy development, electric vehicle promotion, EV charging infrastructure and workforce development for a low-carbon economy.

The PM said he, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas, and all ministers responsible for overseeing budget disbursement would strictly monitor the use of the funds to ensure maximum transparency and efficiency.

"These funds will go directly to the people. There will be no unnecessary projects standing between the government and the urgent need to solve problems for the public," Mr Anutin said after returning from the 48th Asean Summit in Cebu, the Philippines, on Saturday.

Asked about opposition plans to challenge the decree before the Constitutional Court and whether such a move could disrupt projects funded under the scheme, he said the decree had already completed all legal procedures. Some critics object to the loan for relief measures being paired with energy projects, which are seen as less urgent.

"The King has graciously endorsed this emergency decree, and as prime minister I am the one countersigning it. From now on, I must take responsibility," he said. The decree has drawn criticism from opposition parties, which argue the government has failed to justify the need for emergency borrowing.

The Democrat Party has begun gathering signatures from at least 100 MPs to petition the court to review the decree, arguing it may violate the constitution and weaken fiscal discipline.

Deputy Democrat leader Korn Chatikavanij said there were doubts over whether the decree met the conditions under Section 172 of the constitution, which allows emergency executive action only under unavoidable urgent circumstances.

Criticism has also come from the People's Party (PP). Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut warned the decree risked becoming a "blank cheque" for politically motivated spending. PP list-MP Sirikanya Tansakul questioned whether broad subsidy measures funded under the plan would be effective or properly targeted.

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- Thailand energy crisis

- Emergency loan decree

- Thai government borrowing

- Renewable energy transition

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- Anutin charnvirakul

- Electric vehicle infrastructure