PM willing to wear crisis loan flak

Key facts

• 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.