Abhisit unveiled the Democrat Party's 27 campaign policies under the motto “Thailand Rises from Poverty with Capable People,” emphasizing four core pillars. He proudly claimed structural problem-solving to unlock poverty, adding a pointed remark: “Before speaking and acting, one must think carefully and be able to deliver.”,
At 10:30 a.m. on 29 Dec 2025 GMT+7 at the Democrat Party headquarters, the party's three prime ministerial candidates, led by Abhisit Vejjajiva, party leader and first candidate, together with Korn Chatikavanij and Dr. Kadee Liewpiroj as the second and third candidates respectively, jointly launched their campaign policy framework titled “Thailand Rises from Poverty with Capable People.”
Abhisit stated the party's focus on structural problem-solving under four main pillars comprising 27 policies, matching the party number 27. The goal is to unlock poverty, inequality, and persistent livelihood issues endured by the people, aiming to lift the country out of economic stagnation and achieve an average GDP growth of 5% within four years.
Pillar 1: “Ending Poverty through Income” This pillar focuses on raising farmers' and workers' incomes by guaranteeing prices for key crops such as rice, rubber, cassava, palm oil, and animal feed corn, alongside a government co-payment mechanism based on provincial living costs. It includes reducing electricity costs without using tax funds, supporting clean energy, positioning Thailand as the ASEAN energy hub, increasing government revenue from electricity transmission fees, tax relief on the first 40,000 baht of income, and capping electric train and bus fares at 30 baht per trip.
Pillar 2: “Ending Poverty in Spirit” This pillar aims to strengthen life security across all ages, starting with monthly subsidies of 5,000 baht for mothers and children in the first year, savings programs for children from birth, universal elderly allowances of 1,000 baht per month, a 50,000-baht budget for improving elderly homes, lifetime home equity conversion programs, expedited dental care for seniors, and doubling disability allowances.
/ Pillar 3: “Ending Poverty of Knowledge” This pillar reforms education into a flexible system allowing learners to design their own studies through credit banks and digital platforms. It supports a 3,000-baht annual education voucher, addresses hidden expenses in small schools, offers employment to help repay student loans, and enhances language and digital skills via the Learn to Earn platform and National Digital Learning Platform.
Pillar 4: “Ending Poverty by Dead Ends” This pillar focuses on digital government reforms with One-ID and Citizen Wallet, open government data, AI monitoring of procurement, support for Thai products and SMEs, repealing outdated laws via the Super Act, upgrading disaster response systems with unified alerts, tackling PM 2.5 air pollution, comprehensive drug suppression, and infrastructure development including nationwide motorways and high-speed rail linking Thailand to the region.
1. Immediate income guarantees
Support production costs at 1,000 baht per rai at the start of the season, guarantee income of 10,000 baht per rai, with immediate payment of 1,000 baht per rai early in the season and balance paid after harvest.
2. Income guarantees for workers
Improve workers’ quality of life via a government co-payment mechanism based on provincial living cost indices. If living costs exceed minimum wages, the state pays the difference immediately, addressing livelihood issues precisely, curbing inflation from minimum wage hikes, and reducing pressure on employers not to raise prices due to populist minimum wage policies. This also helps small businesses control costs and attract workers into the system without harming business competitiveness.
3. Electricity cost reduction without using tax funds
Manage electricity production costs by reducing use of expensive liquefied natural gas, replacing it with more economical energy. Purchase solar power from households’ rooftop systems with self-generation surplus sold to the Electricity Authority, and import clean energy from Laos.
4. Thailand as Asia’s clean energy hub
Position Thailand as the ASEAN Power Grid transmission center, earning 5 billion baht annually in transit fees from Laos to Malaysia and Singapore. Renew power plant concessions to avoid paying standby fees, creating a cheap reserve capacity, building a new economic engine with practical plans to drive economic growth, expand business opportunities, and create quality jobs.
5. Textbook development and paid forest planting
Turn farmers into salaried workers by planting forests that financial institutions use to issue forest bonds, raising capital for investing in perennial forests. Proceeds from bond sales pay farmers monthly salaries.
6. First 40,000 baht of income tax-free
Currently, those earning 26,583 baht monthly or 150,000 baht annually pay no tax (0% rate), unchanged for a long time despite inflation and economic changes. The policy raises the tax-free net income threshold to 320,000 baht per year (about 40,750 baht per month) to reduce tax burdens on new workers and low-income earners, boosting the economy through increased purchasing power of millions earning under 40,000 baht monthly.
7. Electric train and bus fares capped at 30 baht
Fare calculated by zoning, with trips within zones capped at 30 baht per ride. Long-distance passengers pay reduced fares with integrated ticketing for trains and buses. The state covers the difference in costs for the public.
8. Provincial savings lottery “Fair Luck Everywhere”
Issue savings lottery tickets by province, 100,000 tickets each, with a top prize of 1 million baht per province per round, totaling 77 million baht per round. After prize costs, proceeds contribute to a fund.
9. Support for mothers and child care
Provide mothers and children with 5,000 baht monthly subsidies for 12 months, universal from birth certificate receipt without means testing. The state supports children’s savings from birth to age 18 with 500 baht monthly. Savings left untouched earn 10,000 baht bonuses every five years.
10. Universal elderly allowance of 1,000 baht
Increase elderly allowances to 1,000 baht per month for all aged 60 and over.
11. 50,000 baht for safe elderly homes
Budget for home repairs and adaptations for seniors over 70, such as installing handrails, reducing steps, and improving bathrooms to prevent accidents, enhance convenience, and reduce long-term medical costs.
12. Convert elderly homes into lifelong income with free residence
The state buys elderly homes with advance payments, allowing residents to live there until death. Purchase price discounts apply based on appraised value. Payments occur in four annual installments. Heirs may repurchase at the original price without transfer fees.
13. Fast-track dental care for seniors
Seniors over 70 receive priority dental appointments to avoid long waits, as dental health correlates with longevity.
14. Double disability allowance
Raise minimum disability benefits from 800 to 1,600 baht per month. Disabled individuals under 18 receive 2,000 baht instead of 1,000.
15. Education buffet: study what you want
Flexible curriculum allowing learners to design their own programs, integrating formal and non-formal education via a Credit Bank and Skill Wallet. Youth and the public can accumulate credits from various sources and cross-enroll in institutions. Support for private-sector platforms like language and tech apps. Provide 3,000 baht annual education vouchers for short certified courses to boost income.
16. Truly free education
Address hidden costs burdening parents, especially travel and meals. Encourage local communities to reduce expenses with sufficient budgets, not per capita funding, especially for small schools and disadvantaged children. Communities organize school lunches and transportation.
17. Job placement to repay student loans
Allow student loan borrowers to work in certain roles with government subsidies that reduce their loan amounts, such as social service, shortage occupations, and bedridden elderly care.
18. English for All / Learn to Earn and NDLP platforms
Address inequality by providing native-speaking teachers to all Thai children. Learn to Earn platform aligns training with labor market needs and private sector demands, matching graduates’ skills to jobs. National Digital Learning Platform offers nationwide online learning.
19. Mobile government services with digital government
One-ID technology allows single identity verification, reducing data entry duplication. Citizens access government and private services via mobile 24/7 without paper copies. The Citizen Wallet digitally stores important documents and government benefits for accuracy and efficiency. The Government Data Exchange (GDX) links all agencies and shares data with citizens.
20. Open government data
State procurement data is digital, machine-readable, and public for scrutiny by citizens and experts. AI monitors for procurement irregularities like suspicious specifications, pricing, or substandard goods. Budget tracking by area allows public alerts on project status changes. Agencies must report budget and procurement data to parliamentary budget office. A 360-degree crackdown on scammers is planned.
21. Procurement giving priority to Thai SMEs and Made in Thailand products
Adjust selection criteria to favor local origin over lowest price, awarding extra points for stimulating the domestic economy. Enforce quotas for Thai products allowing higher bids than foreign competitors. Contracts reduce risks for SMEs, such as faster payment installments and lower bond requirements for Thai-made goods. Public-private joint R&D investment targets high-tech products.
22. Break monopolies with the Super Act
Draft the “Act on Improving and Repealing Unnecessary Laws” as an umbrella law to begin legal reform without piecemeal amendments. This enables designing a legal system aligned with the country’s new vision and scenarios.
23. New national lessons: Thailand ready for disasters
Develop a new disaster alert system with single notification to multiple agencies (Single Disaster Center) that saves lives. Elevate the Disaster Prevention Department to national level, standardizing responses across central and local bodies. Use technology for flood forecasting, obstacle removal, creating retention ponds, and local alert systems tailored to village levels. Establish a Disaster Science Institute to define disaster types and warning communication for public understanding and action.
24. Address PM 2.5 pollution with three accelerated laws and strict monitoring
Enforce tight surveillance of high-risk burning areas releasing toxic smoke, implement sincere incentives and penalties, and expedite three laws: Clean Air Act, Climate Change Act, and Circular Economy Act.
25. Drug treatment, suppression, prevention, and scammer crackdown
Separate users from dealers from arrest to prosecution. Expand accessible treatment and rehabilitation centers nationwide. Increase bribes and rewards for capturing major drug networks. Develop a spatial risk index mapping drug severity by area. Collaborate with the military to suppress trafficking routes.
26. Four-year volunteer soldiers with free education and guaranteed jobs
Recruit volunteer soldiers for four-year service with full military benefits. Allow them to pursue education from diploma level upward during service. One family is entitled to one volunteer soldier with one career post-service. After service, volunteers can take civil service exams for government positions, with reserved job quotas in various agencies such as military sergeants, police, administration, disaster prevention, and natural resources officials.
27. Motorways and high-speed rail connecting Thailand globally
Construct four-directional motorways nationwide: Bangkok–Chiang Rai, Bangkok–Sadao, Bangkok–Trat, Bangkok–Kanchanaburi, Bangkok–Nong Khai, Bangkok–Ubon Ratchathani. Expand high-speed rail from Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai, linking Laos and onward to China, including a new Thai–Lao railway bridge and cross-border customs and immigration facilities.
Abhisit added that the policy framework will be driven by an experienced team, emphasizing the idea that “what is said must be feasible” to sustainably lift Thailand from a suffocating state to one free from poverty. “Today many talk about policies. Some may feel it’s not just talk, but speaking and acting isn’t enough. One must think before speaking, and after speaking, be capable of delivering. We are capable,” Abhisit said.
