The budget bill for the 2025 fiscal year is anticipated to progress smoothly through its second and third readings, according to Chief Government Whip Wisut Chainarun.
The House of Representatives is set to engage in a three-day debate on the bill beginning Tuesday.
The 3.75-trillion-baht budget bill was approved for deliberation during its first reading in the House on June 21.
Mr. Wisut expressed confidence that the bill will easily pass, expecting it to receive backing from at least 320 MPs from coalition parties. He believes the caretaker government can address concerns raised by the opposition during the discussions, particularly regarding the digital wallet distribution scheme.
Sorawong Thienthong, the secretary-general of the Pheu Thai Party, noted that he expects MPs from the Democrat Party to support the budget bill now that the former opposition party has become part of the Pheu Thai-led coalition.
In contrast, Sirikanya Tansakun, a list MP from the opposition People’s Party, stated that her party will focus on the digital wallet scheme, which is partially funded by the 2025 budget.
“The government has been struggling to secure sufficient funding for the scheme, which requires 450 billion baht,” she explained.
On May 28, the cabinet approved a budget of 3.75 trillion baht for the 2025 fiscal year, which runs from October 1 to September 30 of the following year.
The spending will be financed by projected tax revenue of 2.88 trillion baht and a loan to cover a budget deficit estimated at around 865 billion baht for the 2025 fiscal year.
Of the budget, 152.7 billion baht is allocated for the government’s digital wallet distribution initiative.
Despite a higher budget deficit this year, the government is setting aside 908 billion baht for investments, marking a 27.9% increase compared to the 2024 fiscal year.
The government previously indicated that the necessary 450 billion baht will be sourced from budgets for both fiscal years 2024 and 2025.
Approximately 160 billion baht is expected to come from fiscal year 2024, which includes around 43 billion baht from 2024’s central budget and 122 billion baht from the additional budget for that year.
Furthermore, 152.7 billion baht of the 450 billion baht will be drawn from the 2025 budget, while 132.3 billion baht will originate from the management of other budgets, such as the central budget and unspent budgets from various agencies.
