The Ministry of Justice budget debate heated up as MP “Ice” took aim at a senior official rumored to be crossing over to lead the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), raising tensions and causing disorderly protests from Bhumjaithai MPs.
At 16:00 on 9 Sep 2026 GMT+7, during a House of Representatives session considering the 2027 fiscal budget bill, discussion reached Section 21 concerning the Ministry of Justice’s 16,437 million baht budget. Amid the debate, MP Rakchanok Srinok of the Prachachon Party addressed a 27 million baht project to develop a system for tracing financial transactions and analyzing money trails to aid special case investigations by the DSI. She noted this would fill a gap due to the DSI’s shortage of financial analysts but expressed concern that the person who would oversee the DSI’s use of this software might not be impartial. She alluded to someone who had waited respectfully at Buriram airport to greet a group accused by the 26th subcommittee of the Election Commission (EC) of wrongdoing involving senators.
Rakchanok then displayed a slide showing a blurred image of a civil servant raising a hand in a wai greeting to Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul at Buriram airport. She named Police Lieutenant Colonel Piya Raksakul, Director of the Probation Department, rumored to be appointed as the new DSI director. She worried whether the software would be used properly under his leadership, since Piya is a member of the 36th EC investigation subcommittee. She warned that if appointed DSI director, lower-ranking officials unwilling to compromise their integrity to serve the "blue regime" might face severe persecution, prompting Bhumjaithai MPs to protest, arguing the debate was unrelated to the budget.
Deputy Speaker Lertsak Patanachayakul, presiding over the session, cautioned Rakchanok to be careful naming external individuals before allowing her to continue. However, Bhumjaithai MPs persistently interrupted, leading to exchanges between them and Rakchanok. She responded that she had patiently listened all morning to some praising ministers unrelated to the debate, but maintained courtesy. She noted that certain keywords in her speech might trigger sensitivities, such as "blue regime," "Election Commission," "collusion," and "senators." Bhumjaithai MPs protested again, and the chair then moved to cut off the debate, calling on other MPs to speak. After all members finished debating, the House voted to approve Section 21 with 279 votes in favor, 139 against, and 55 abstentions.