In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Korn said the project – a flagship campaign policy for Pheu Thai – will not win support from coalition partners and will meet many political, economic and legal obstacles.
He said he was airing his beliefs as a citizen and a former finance minister who was experienced in financial affairs.
He said that since he has left politics, he does not want to talk about political issues, but said the Pheu Thai-led government’s plan to borrow 500 billion baht to finance the digital wallet scheme would have severe a impact on the country.
Korn quit the Chart Pattana Kla Party and declared he was washing his hands of politics before the party joined the Pheu Thai-led coalition.
He added that he has read reports about the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) subcommittee’s opinions on the digital wallet scheme and realised that the project will never materialise.
The NACC subpanel reportedly said only economic calamities to the magnitude of the 1997 Tom Yum Kung crisis, the 2011 great floods and the Covid-19 pandemic can warrant a loan as huge as 500 billion baht.
Political observers expect the government to use the NACC’s opinions as an excuse to abandon the project.
“I can conclude that the current economic situation is not in a crisis, and since it is not in a crisis, the borrowing bill will not meet the criteria of Article 53 of the fiscal discipline act on off-budget loans,” Korn said.
Credit: http://nationthailand.com
