By Thai Newsroom Reporters
THE PEOPLE’S-LED opposition bloc today (May 11) petitioned the Constitutional Court to nullify the Bhumjaithai-led government’s executive decree for a 400 billion baht borrowed funding package which, they contended, may be perpetrated in violation of the constitution and not have been designed on basis of emergency or necessity in regard to a restructuring scheme over energy consumption and prices.
The opposition’s plea, lodged via House Speaker Sopon Sarum to the Constitutional Court, could possibly prompt the “independent” judicial agency to call the highly contentious executive decree null and void due to the alleged breach to the constitution to the extent that as much as half the total 400 billion baht in sought-after loan not be spent up on grounds of emergency or necessity as otherwise publicly proclaimed by the government led by the Bhumjaithai, core of the coalition partners surreptitiously steered by de facto party boss Newin Chidchob.
Nevertheless, it remains to be seen whether the Constitutional Court will decide very shortly either to accept the opposition’s plea or lift it as the executive decree is scheduled to be put on House floor debate on the upcoming Thursday.
According to the opposition bloc, an estimated 200 billion baht in the sought-after borrowed funding would ultimately finance projects primarily related to the government’s restructuring scheme over energy pricing and consumption but evidently irrelevant to any government measures to alleviate the people’s economic woes as otherwise contended by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and others.
The Bhumjaithai-attached prime minister has earlier insisted that “every baht and satang” of the 400 billion baht borrowed funding will directly, entirely benefit the people and that he will see to it that the loan money definitely not be embezzled or misused by anyone in government.
People’s leader Nattapong Ruengpanyawut remarked that the Constitutional Court may or may not take into account the portion of the sought-after loan which will not ultimately involve any government measures to ease the people’s economic hardships or stimulate domestic consumption whilst the executive decree is already in effect.
Besides, it remains to be seen exactly how the sought-after 400 billion baht loan will be procured by the government whilst the prime minister has earlier said all the loan money will only be acquired in the baht denomination.
The opposition bloc contended that such a significant borrowed funding package should only have been prepared in legislation in lieu of the contentious executive decree due to its alleged lack of emergency or necessity particularly in regard to the sustained energy issue.
However, the questionable decree issued by the executive branch is to be retroactively approved by the legislative branch on the upcoming Thursday.
CAPTION:
The opposition, People’s leader Nattapong Ruengpanyawut, second left, and Democrat deputy leader Korn Chatikavanij, third left in above photo and right in Front Page photo, together with other MPs submit their petition to the charter court. Photos – Amarin TV
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