"Mark" hinted at plans to attack government policies over two consecutive days, criticizing "Phiphat" for supporting energy capital interests more than the general public, and urged refineries to share the oil burden.
On 31 March 2026, Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the Democrat Party, gave an interview following the royal decree appointing the new cabinet, stating that the announced lineup was not unexpected. He is preparing to use the upcoming policy presentation to parliament, expected between 8-10 April, to dissect the country's governance approach.
Mr. Abhisit also called on the government to implement clear measures to tackle high oil prices, specifically by involving refineries in sharing the burden, rather than leaving the public to bear it alone through the oil fund mechanism, which draws on future funds and will cause Thais to pay high prices for a long time even after global prices fall.
The Democrat Party leader expressed concern over the role of Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, who often defends energy business operators more than the public. He also questioned transparency, noting that the Prime Minister continues to trust him in his role despite objections about his suitability.
Regarding the government policy debate, Mr. Abhisit said the opposition is expected to have a total of 14-15 hours for discussion. The Democrat Party will focus its limited time on the severe hardships faced by vulnerable groups amid the cost-of-living crisis.
"I am concerned that explanations from the level of Deputy Prime Minister seem to represent business interests more than the people's perspective," Mr. Abhisit emphasized, adding he plans to coordinate with other opposition parties to allocate debate time to ensure the new government's policies are thoroughly scrutinized.