Theng Nattapong pointed out that the no-confidence debate against the government is not solely about flood management failures. He advised against viewing large-scale investments as solutions for every problem and declared that the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the barcode election case may seem contradictory.
At 12:30 p.m. on 29 Sep 2026 at the Bang Talat Canal floodgate in Nonthaburi province, Nattapong Ruangpanyawut, leader of the People’s Party, led a team to inspect water drainage in Nonthaburi. He commented on the flood lesson drama, saying that this year’s flood disaster differs from previous major floods. The focus should be on the problems citizens face, aligned with local conditions, rather than speaking only in broad terms. When asked about the cabinet’s Flood Plain project budgeted over 100 billion baht over seven years, Nattapong said large projects are necessary but must start with comprehensive public consultation. He warned against assuming big investments can solve every problem and said efforts must run in parallel. When asked about the prime minister facing criticism during site visits, Nattapong said the prime minister had already expressed that criticism is part of his role. The government must work to facilitate easier access to relief funds without adding burdens on the public.
When asked whether the government’s management is considered a failure that could lead to no-confidence debate issues, Nattapong said the party has been continuously gathering points for no-confidence debates, not just related to floods. Regarding water management, as seen, there are many problems. The government should send representatives or political party members to local areas to understand citizens better and address problems precisely.
Nattapong also commented on the Constitutional Court’s ruling regarding election ballots with barcodes and QR codes, saying he honestly disagrees with the court’s decision. He believes printing election ballots with barcodes linked to voter information undermines ballot secrecy. The court reasoned that separating stored ballots preserves practical secrecy, but a key question remains: if behind-the-scenes officials not publicly known compile data, there is a possibility that ill-intentioned individuals could learn or predict how people voted.
However, yesterday’s Constitutional Court ruling may seem contradictory by stating secrecy exists in practice while also discouraging such practices in the future. Therefore, it is the Election Commission’s duty to improve according to the court’s ruling. The People’s Party views the root solution as the role of independent bodies, like the Election Commission and Constitutional Court, in issuing such rulings. Ultimately, the party plans to push for reforms ensuring independent organizations’ origins and operations are more closely linked to the public.