Ratchada revealed that the government is advancing efforts to resolve the energy crisis by promptly assisting citizens and businesses. She expressed no concern over the opposition's plan to petition the Constitutional Court to block the emergency loan decree and reaffirmed that the 'Thai Help Thai Plus-Co-Payment' program will commence on 1 June.
6 May 2026 GMT+7 Ms. Ratchada Thanadirek, spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, responded to reporters' questions regarding the Democrat Party's plan to petition the Constitutional Court to review the issuance of the government's emergency loan decree. She said that whether the decree is necessary and urgent is a matter for legal process, but from the executive branch's perspective, the government insists that quickly implementing measures to alleviate the impacts of the energy crisis and living costs is an urgent necessity that cannot wait.
Ms. Ratchada stated that Thailand is currently under pressure from global conditions, particularly volatile energy prices, which directly affect the public's cost of living, production costs, and the country's competitiveness. Without swift measures, there is a risk of high inflation coupled with economic recession in the near term, which would be much harder to resolve than now.
The government has set two key approaches: rapidly easing the public's living costs and reducing production expenses, especially in agriculture, while simultaneously restructuring the country's energy use to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and ensure long-term energy security.
Regarding views that immediate action is unnecessary and that the usual budget process should be used, Ms. Ratchada explained that the regular budget is planned in advance and adjustments take time, causing delays. Importantly, the regular budget is insufficient to address the crisis since we are in the second half of the fiscal year and the new budget starts in October, too late to manage the current emergency. Therefore, using the emergency loan decree mechanism is necessary to provide timely support to citizens and businesses.
The government assures that these actions remain within fiscal discipline, without affecting the public debt ceiling set at no more than 70 percent of GDP, and all projects will be subject to thorough screening, auditing, and transparent public disclosure.
, Meanwhile, the government has set a clear timeline for assisting the public, particularly the 'Thai Help Thai Plus-Co-Payment' program, which aims to begin on 1 June. Additional funds will also be provided to State Welfare Card holders to ensure money reaches citizens as quickly as possible and to help circulate funds throughout the economy.
In closing, Ms. Ratchada said the government must make decisions based on the necessity of caring for the people and stabilizing the national economy through the crisis. Every step focuses on delivering swift assistance while maintaining caution, transparency, and accountability. The opposition, however, is expected to have different judgments.