A PEOPLE’S Party MP lambasted a budget for a Constitutional Court course which allegedly did not meet the objective during the last day of deliberation of the 3.75 trillion baht 2025 budget legislation in the House of Representatives today (Sept. 5), Naewna newspaper said.
Ms. Sasinan Thamnithinan, People’s Party MP for Bangkok, said the Constitutional Court’s “The Rule of Law for Democracy” course which requires 8.8 million baht budget is a connection course but looking at the details it has not reached its objective at all with what was carried out not about the rule of law but more like practising dhamma and sometimes going India and Nepal to do so.
She added that this project is no different than a family reunion with many generations of people carrying the same surname having undertaken it and also joining in were military officers and politicians. Of three names on the list who are important people in the government, two are ministers.
“Importantly, the president of the court also passed this course as did three out of nine judges. These courses should not exist in an organisation that relies on credibility and neutrality. I would like to cut the budget for this project in order to guarantee the neutrality of the court in performing their duties as independent judges,” she said.
Ms Rukchanok Srinok, People’s Party MP for Bangkok, focused on the Constitutional Court’s request for 1 million baht to conduct an online survey on confidence in its administration of justice. However its Facebook page shows it has blocked comments.
Is it not contradictory to block comments on Facebook yet ask for a budget to carry out an online survey on public opinion, she mentioned.
Later at 6.40 p.m. the debate moved Section 32 of the budget bill on outlays for independent organisations and the public prosecutor totalling 10,327,613,900 baht.
Mr. Kanphong Prayoonsak, People’s Party MP for Bangkok, pointed out that the Attorney General’s Office and the Election Commission have together asked for a total of 425 million baht to conduct training.
The Election Commission’s training budget of 256 million baht is to focus on three areas: elections, strengthening network and democracy while the Attorney General’s Office requires 168 million baht for its training programme,
Looking at it this is too much budget for training, he added.
Also hitting out at the Election Commission was Mr. Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, Ruam Thai Sang Chart’s party list MP, who said he noticed that the polling agency had not been giving yellow and red cards, especially during the recent senatorial election, which was closely watched by the public.
This agency must restore confidence, whoever does wrong must be punished.
Nonetheless the majority of the MPs cast yea votes for the budget bill’s Section 32.
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Top and Front Page: A composite photo showing a House meeting, left, and Constitutional Court judges, right. Photo: Matichon
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