The Democrat Party spokesperson clarified Abhisit's vision aimed at reforming the budget system for sustainability, not undermining civil servants' rights, after the message was distorted for political gain.
4 Jul 2026 GMT+7 Mr. Pongsakorn Khwanmuang, spokesperson for the Democrat Party, explained regarding cases where news agencies distorted the content related to the debate on the draft Appropriation Act for fiscal year 2027 from the debate by Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva, party-list MP and leader of the Democrat Party, affirming that the Democrat Party has always prioritized welfare for public personnel and the country's economic stability.
Mr. Pongsakorn added that especially on the issue of adjusting welfare, medical rights, and pensions for civil servants, what Mr. Abhisit discussed in parliament was a well-intentioned vision, recognizing that changing the current rights of civil servants who decided to join the service from day one would be unfair. However, to lay a foundation and save the country's budget long-term, he had proposed in Cabinet meetings the idea of creating "a new system for future civil servants," which unfortunately has not been pursued by subsequent governments.
“In Mr. Abhisit's debate, there was no mention of cutting civil servants' pensions. Instead, this was distorted for political purposes. We have not remained silent; we have offered thoughts and observations in Cabinet and sincerely hope relevant agencies will develop this idea further to create a fair and sustainable system for all parties.”
Furthermore, the Democrat Party spokesperson reflected a constructive view on overall budget preparation, stating that national investment should not rely solely on the state budget but focus on increasing revenue and effective public-private partnerships (PPP). The party is concerned about the recent 400 billion baht loan, half of which was spent on cash handouts, while the other half merely promoted solar cell and electric vehicle imports. Meanwhile, the major 1 trillion baht Land Bridge project shows no valuable progress, reflecting that the country is stuck in budget overruns and awaits serious resolution to maximize taxpayers' money.
Regarding citizens' safety, Mr. Pongsakorn expressed concern for the people, especially in Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province, a disaster-prone area. Having visited during floods, he hopes the government will urgently invest in disaster prevention instead of making people wait for compensation, as by then Thailand and its people will have already suffered losses. Most importantly, if no action is taken and the government allows this to continue, it will inevitably affect the rights of the disabled, elderly, and children, ultimately forcing the government to borrow more or raise value-added tax, causing widespread hardship for the public.