The Democrat Party asked the government why it has not used over 50 billion baht from the Thai Ruay Plus fund to help reduce fuel costs for the public, noting that despite global oil prices dropping, pump prices have not decreased. The government countered that the budget was redirected to subsidize diesel, which does not cover all groups.
On 19 Sep 2026 GMT+7, Mr. Teerarat Sirijantaropas, energy economic team member of the Democrat Party, held a press conference regarding the Fuel Fund Management Committee's adjustment of the fund rates and the Energy Policy Committee's decision to cut diesel refinery prices by 4 baht per liter. He stated that reducing refinery prices merely "extracts refinery profits" that have been excessively high for a long time. While this measure is appropriate, it is delayed and insufficient to significantly reduce pump prices because the fuel price structure still carries other burdens that the government refuses to address, especially the nearly 7 baht per liter excise tax. Using the fuel fund to support prices is merely a "shifting money from the left pocket to the right pocket." When global oil prices decline, the government reduces compensation and returns money to the fund, preventing pump prices from dropping as the public expects. The Democrat Party therefore reiterates its original proposal that the government can immediately reduce excise tax on fuel to achieve a genuine and sustainable price decrease, rather than a temporary reduction through the fund which the public eventually has to repay.
Mr. Teerarat also questioned the government why, given that the Thai Ruay Plus program still has over 50 billion baht remaining, it does not use these funds to help reduce fuel prices nationwide, which would immediately and directly lower living costs, rather than borrowing money to provide occasional handouts without structural solutions, or perhaps due to concerns about losing popularity.
"If the government accepts the Democrat Party's proposal to reduce excise tax on diesel by 7 baht per liter for two months, it would cost less than half compared to extending the Thai Ruay Plus program. This would also concretely reduce living expenses for the public and production costs for entrepreneurs nationwide," Mr. Teerarat said.
Government Responds: Reallocation of Thai Ruay Plus Budget to Diesel Subsidies Does Not Cover All Groups
Subsequently, Ms. Lalida Pertwiwatthana, deputy spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, commented on Mr. Teerarat Sirijantaropas's proposal to use approximately 50 billion baht remaining from the "Thai Ruay Plus" project to reduce fuel prices alongside a 7 baht per liter excise tax cut on diesel for two months. She said the proposal could be considered but must account for the full purpose of the budget, the groups benefiting, and fiscal responsibility, rather than focusing solely on the impact on fuel users. "Thai Ruay Plus" is not a fuel price subsidy fund but a set of measures approved by the Cabinet on 19 May 2026 GMT+7, with a total budget not exceeding 175.7 billion baht under a 200 billion baht loan framework. Its goal is to assist low-income earners and state welfare cardholders, alleviate living costs, maintain purchasing power, and channel income to small retailers.
Under these measures, about 13.18 million state welfare cardholders receive an additional 700 baht monthly, totaling 1,000 baht per month from June to September 2026 GMT+7. The 60/40 co-payment scheme covers food, beverages, specified goods and services, and participating public transport services, extending benefits to those without private vehicles.
"We must fully consider that if funds originally intended to support living costs are used to lower diesel prices, what benefits do those without vehicles receive? How will the elderly, low-income groups, or those using public transport directly benefit? Fuel price reductions benefit users proportionally to their consumption: those who buy more fuel get more discount, while those who don't get no direct benefit. The 'remaining' 50 billion baht is not a free lump sum the government can use arbitrarily; it must be checked for existing obligations and legal permissions to change its purpose. If proposing to reallocate this money, comprehensive accounting data and legal basis should be provided first," Ms. Lalida said.