Prit Urges Parliament Speaker to Fast-Track Bill, Establish Ad Hoc Committee to Scrutinize 400 Billion Baht Borrowing Decree, Warns Government Not to Evade Parliament

On May 19, 2025, Prit Chaturon, a Pheu Thai party list MP and opposition coalition coordinator, addressed the Constitutional Court's acceptance of a petition challenging the constitutionality of the 400 billion baht borrowing decree. While parliament must pause its approval process once the court accepts the case, the government has declared it will proceed with spending, with the cabinet expected to approve initial fund disbursement on that same day. Chaturon argued that parliament's concrete response should be establishing an ad hoc committee to investigate whether the funds are being used transparently and directly, similar to past oversight practices.

Chaturon revealed that his party submitted an urgent bill last week awaiting the speaker's determination on whether to classify it as an emergency matter. He expressed hope the speaker would grant urgent status, as the government has already begun spending from the borrowing decree. He warned that if the speaker refuses urgent designation and the matter doesn't reach parliament next week, it would raise serious questions about the speaker's neutrality.

When asked what would happen if no ad hoc committee is established, Chaturon criticized the government's approach of bundling 200 billion baht in public assistance with 200 billion baht in energy projects, describing it as using relief funds as collateral for energy initiatives and reflecting government deception. He argued that either blocking the ad hoc committee's establishment or refusing urgent bill status would constitute "parliamentary evasion"—first by circumventing normal legislative processes through the decree mechanism, and second by preventing proper oversight. "This would only reinforce opposition concerns about this government's lack of transparency," Chaturon concluded.