Abhisit invoked his parliamentary privilege to explain the "budget without future," arguing that borrowing 400 billion baht fails to address investment needs or build new capacities for the country's future. He warned to expedite repairs of Khlong R.1 in Hat Yai before a repeat of last year's major flood crisis.
On 1 July 2026 at the Parliament building, during the House of Representatives meeting to consider the draft budget bill,. for fiscal year 2027, Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the Democrat Party, stood up to use his parliamentary privilege to clarify structural perspectives on three issues, following a political concept debate by the Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office.
Abhisit elaborated on the definition of a “budget without future,” stating that although the government tries to show a deficit-reducing budget figure, in reality it must include off-budget funds like the 400 billion baht loan decree. Examining the details, the first 200 billion baht was used for relief, and the latter 200 billion baht was not invested to upgrade technological skills or build new capacity for the country's future.
Additionally, the former prime minister explained about the government personnel welfare budget, noting that he and former Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij once suggested in cabinet meetings that a new welfare system for newly appointed civil servants should be designed to ensure fairness and help save the state budget long-term, instead of cutting benefits for existing civil servants. Unfortunately, this idea was not pursued by subsequent governments.
At the end, Abhisit raised the concerns of Hat Yai residents in Songkhla province about flood disaster risks. He said that what MP Juree Numkaew of his party has tried to present is not a technical budget issue but a fact that the government has not allocated infrastructure funds concretely to prevent disasters. He urged urgent repairs of the damaged Khlong R.1 to prevent residents from facing the same fate as last year.
“Today, the government has not allocated a budget to prevent disasters that make the people of Hat Yai very worried. The infrastructure once discussed is not included in the budget at all. In a few months, they may face the same fate as last year. If I may advise the MPs now, it’s to keep praying until we get real answers. At the very least, the damaged Khlong R.1 must not be allowed to remain as it is,” Abhisit said.