Ekniti points out that the 400 billion baht emergency loan decree to address the livelihood crisis is like hitting two birds with one stone, both providing relief to the people and enabling them to regain strength, while the war's end remains uncertain.
At 12:05 PM on 12 May 2026, Ekniti Nitithanprapas, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, affirmed the necessity of issuing the 400 billion baht loan decree following the opposition's petition to the Constitutional Court. He stated that this concerns economic security and the people's livelihood crisis. He believes every country has a responsibility to care for its citizens' livelihoods. Regarding comparisons to past events, such as the 1997 crisis characterized by currency collapse and bank failures, he clarified that the current situation differs as it is a cost-of-living crisis. The global surge in living expenses represents an economic security crisis. Therefore, the government insists on urgent action, which was carefully considered by the cabinet. He warned that without action now, multiple waves of crisis will follow.
"We are now seeing inflation rising rapidly, leading to a cost-of-living crisis. If we cannot halt this crisis immediately and instead wait for problems to worsen, as living costs rise and incomes shrink, small businesses will be unable to sustain themselves and will suffer severely, resulting in a job crisis. This is an economic security issue, and the longer it is left unchecked, the harder it will be to resolve," Ekniti said. Ekniti said.
Ekniti added that the loan decree has now been published in the Royal Gazette and is in effect. He confirmed the government is ready to proceed. Regarding whether the latter 200 billion baht can wait for the regular annual budget, he said he believes the two halves of 200 billion baht each should be treated separately. This is an emergency relief issue. The decree's purpose is relief, but beyond that, it also aims to facilitate a transition towards resilience. He likened it to hitting two birds with one stone—both mitigating impacts and helping the country regain strength.
"It is clear today that Thailand faces greater risks from the energy crisis than many countries because we rely heavily on energy imports. Hence, a transition is necessary. If we continue to depend so much on oil, imports will be unavoidable. Meanwhile, the war's end is unknown and is expected to impact the people in multiple waves. I believe the people will suffer," he said. Ekniti said.