Populist plans under fire

Greedbusters are wary of” irrational” policies

Vote campaign posters along Phahon Yothin Road in Phaya Thai district, Bangkok. (Photo: Nutthawat Wicheanbut)
Voting campaign posters can be found in Bangkok’s Phaya Thai territory along Phahon Yothin Road. ( Image: Wicheanbut Nutthawat)

The National Anti-Corruption Commission ( NACC) has expressed grave concerns about the likelihood of corruption cases brought on by parties’ push for irrational populist policies in order to win the upcoming election.

How much have we lost to insurance fraud, according to an essay? The NACC examined the amount of state funding needed to support each democratic party’s campaign promises and posted it on its website on Thursday.

The anti-graft organization argued that it is dedicated to advising all voters, especially local ones, to consider whether populist policies promised by the social event of their choice could actually be carried out without afterwards jeopardizing the nation’s financial security.

The NACC noted that three of the most expensive policies will require backing of 1.36 trillion ringgit. The Pheu Thai Party has proposed up to 70 laws and stated that it would take more than 3 trillion Baht to fund them.

52 policies have been put forth by the Move Forward Party, and their implementation will cost a number of 1.28 trillion ringgit, according to the party.

According to the NACC, the Palang Pracharath Party has put forth 14 policies that, when put into action, may cost around 1 trillion ringgit in revenue, whereas the Democrat Party is proposing 11 policies, which may require 685.4 billion Baht.

In the meantime, it added, the United Thai Nation Party has already put forth 11 guidelines that will cost 250 billion baht to fund.

According to Section 57 of the 2017 natural law on political events, every political party is required to provide the Election Commission with the specifics of their proposed policies so that the EC you review the administrative requirements. It also added that this is done to assess the policy’s worthiness, risks, and consequences.

According to the EC, these policies will be evaluated to determine whether or not they are intended to deceive voters in order to increase the popularity of parties or candidates, which could result in a group’s breakdown.

The NACC concluded that several of the party plan reports that were submitted to the EC lacked sufficient clarity to describe how ambitious proposals might be carried out. It stated that they only mentioned objectives and budgetary needs.

By obliquely asserting that the remaining funding may come from sources outside the annual federal budget, some political parties even attempted to make the required budgets smaller than what is really required, it claimed.

The NACC stated that the budget for the 2024 fiscal year, which begins in October, has already been prepared and is only around 200 billion baht. It also added that each of the preceding parties had stated they would need much more than what has been allotted.

Professor at Rangsit University’s Faculty of Political Science, Wanwichit Boonprong, criticized the NACC for publishing the post ahead of the May 14 election, saying that rather than criticizing political parties over their administrative plans, it should be responsible for looking into alleged acts of corruption and working to stop them from occurring.

According to Mr. Wanwichit,” This demonstrates unequivocally that the NACC itself rejects the current corruption-checking network.” The NACC would not have been so confused about corruption that has not yet occurred if it weren’t for that.

Mr. Wanwichit responded that he agrees, but there are still independent body and civic organizations that hold the government responsible in the fulfillment of campaign guarantees. When asked if a policy requiring rembursts typically comes with dreadful danger of legislation corruption.

Sutin Klungsang, the deputy president of the Thai Party, claimed that before releasing its guidelines to the public, they had been carefully examined.

He believed that the sum needed to stimulate the economy may always be used as the only criterion to assess such a plan. Pheu Thai has also determined how its policies may generate economic importance, despite the fact that they might need a sizable sum of money.

The NACC’s secretary-general, Niwatchai Kasemmongkol, stated that the document does not intend to cast doubt on political parties.

However, it would like to request that the EC examine any new financial coverage put forth by political parties to see if they lack fiscal restraint and could cause a financial crisis in the nation.

He insisted that no social events were to be harmed by the action. He did, however, add that he would like to issue a warning so that the public is carefully consider any future policies that might put the nation at risk financially.