Discussed: 20 Apr 2025 at 19:18
The House is expected to begin proceedings on the 2026 Budget Bill later next month, with the decision Pheu Thai Party saying it is assured the costs will go despite the growing tension between members of the government partnership over the drive to legalise games in the country.
Pheu Thai MP Sutin Klungsang said on Sunday congress is scheduled to examine the costs in an amazing period following Monday and Tuesday.
Handling reports which claim the authorities may be dissolved before its name ends due to disagreements within the ruling coalition about the proposed game policy, Mr Sutin said parties in the alliance should not let a fight over one request derail the entire agreement.
Mr Sutin said he was assured the debate over the game costs will not have an impact on the resources costs proceedings.
” This is the most important piece of legislation needed to run the country. If someone were to voting against it over a minor concern, that would be juvenile,” he said.
The former defence minister even hit back at the Senate, which recently urged the House of Representatives to waited for it to study the draft policy, before proposing additional measures relating to the costs.
It also threatened to start an morality probe of MPs who are pushing for the swift passage of the casino-entertainment difficult costs.
Mr Sutin said the legislative branch must follow the procedures outlined in the constitution, before adding the bill won’t be affected by baseless threats to launch probes.
Separately, Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, United Thai Nation ( UTN) Party deputy leader, said all 36 MPs under his party will support the 2026 budget bill, stressing its importance in driving national policies and solving the problems faced by the public.
He said while the coalition parties may disagree on some issues, there is broad consensus on the need to support the bill.
The Senate committee studying the casino-entertainment complex bill will hold its first meeting on Wednesday to elect members and define the committee’s scope of work.
Senator Veerapun Suvannamai insisted the committee’s chairman must remain politically neutral and stay focused on national interests rather than partisanship.
He said the committee will focus on whether or not casinos could help revive the lagging economy and how they would affect the country’s geopolitics, trade, crime and youth.
Senator Chaiyong Maneerungsakul said the committee must study the pros and cons of the bill.
He opined that while legal casinos might generate revenue, they would not eliminate illegal gambling.