Money to be given to ‘ resilient’ first
According to a source, the Pheu Thai Party’s iconic digital wallet flyer policy will start, with funds going to be distributed in money to those who are most vulnerable second via the welfare card.
Following Srettha Thavisin’s termination as prime minister by the Constitutional Court’s order, the system, which aims to deliver 10,000 baht via a digital bag to around 50 million available Thais, hangs in the balance.
However, the source indicated the handout scheme will not be abandoned.
Instead, the scheme’s conditions will be revised to target the registered vulnerable under a budget of 122 billion baht.
The source claims that the welfare card, which was introduced during the Prayut government, can be used to distribute the handout in cash.
Caretaker Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat earlier stated that there is still a workable solution for the government’s digital wallet project, but that all steps must be completed before an official announcement can be made.
Phumtham Wechayachai, the party’s caretaker deputy prime minister, promised the organization would fulfill its election campaign promise, though the plan might be modified to fit the occasion.
Once the new cabinet is sworn in and the government releases its policy priorities to parliament, he added the details of the scheme, which is intended to stimulate the economy, would be made clear.
Additionally, newly elected Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra added that the government would” study and consider additional options” to ensure the scheme is fiscally responsible.
When speaking to parliament on Wednesday, People’s Party Deputy Leader Sirikanya Tansakul requested clarification regarding the digital wallet scheme.
It would not surprise if the government chooses to target vulnerable people and distribute cash handouts, as she noted, was suggested.
Ms. Sirikanya claimed that the government’s digital wallet handout scheme could be funded by the 2024 fiscal year budget, as the supplementary bill to increase the government’s budget by 122 billion baht had already passed parliament.
Meanwhile, all coalition partners, including the Palang Pracharath Party ( PPRP ), have submitted their lists of ministerial candidates, and the next step is to conduct thorough background checks, according to the PM’s Secretary-General Prommin Lertsuridej.
He stated that public organizations would be urged to assist the cabinet secretariat in confirming the credentials of candidates for cabinet positions.
The lists will also be forwarded to the Royal Thai Police and the Securities and Exchange Commission, while the Council of State, the government’s legal adviser, will be consulted if any questions arise, he said.
After Srettha Thavisin’s dismissal, thorough background checks are anticipated to be conducted to ensure candidates meet the requirements and avoid any legal issues that might affect the new government.
Nobody wants another instance of what happened to Mr. Srettha, who was fired after the cabinet appointed a person with a criminal record.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission, the Election Commission, and the State Audit Office are among the likely institutions that will be involved in evaluating the qualifications of ministerial candidates.
The candidates will be screened to make sure they do not have criminal histories, hold shares in companies or other assets that would conflict with legal or ethical standards for holding a government position, or have any prior criminal records, according to Dr. Prommin.