Dr. Warong criticized the Anutin government for mistreating the poor and worsening the flood crisis along with rising prices of goods and fuel. He urged a review of the welfare card cuts affecting 7.6 million poor people and challenged the Bhumjaithai Party to campaign on this policy in the next election for the public to decide.
At 09:30 on 7 Oct 2026 GMT+7, Dr. Warong Dechkitvikrom, party-list MP and leader of the Thai Pakdee Party, issued a statement at parliament about the flood situation, saying the hardest hit are the poor, not the well-off. Having visited affected areas, he found poor people struggling in daily life. He called on Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to urgently review the state welfare card program, as Finance Ministry data shows 13.2 million people hold these cards.
Following new measures, the number of original poor cardholders dropped to 12.7 million, while new applicants were invited. The total number who registered to use the welfare cards reached 18.82 million, but the government recently announced only 11.25 million met the criteria. Consequently, 7.6 million people lost their welfare card rights due to new rules set by the Finance Ministry, excluding 3.5 million new applicants who were also rejected.
Dr. Warong continued, In the flood crisis, the poor suffer the most. Fuel prices and living costs have risen, making life harder, yet the poor are losing their welfare card rights. He directly appealed to the prime minister, noting that while the PM meets the public, he doubts if the poor dare to speak openly. However, Dr. Warong’s team received many complaints from citizens asking the government not to mistreat or further burden the poor with conditions like floods, high living costs, and rising fuel prices, all while cutting welfare card access. The 300 baht monthly aid is crucial to helping them survive.
Regarding the Finance Ministry’s call for people to use the Thai Chua Thai Plus program, Dr. Warong said the ministry is out of touch, sitting in an ivory tower. The poor cannot afford to add funds since they rely on 300 baht monthly aid. The ministry’s suggestion to use Thai Chua Thai Plus is unrealistic. He did not appeal to Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Aeknithi Nitithanprapas, believing he is detached from the poor’s realities. Instead, he urged the prime minister to reconsider the welfare card eligibility announced on 30 September and to restore the rights of the original poor, appealing to common sense since no government has ever revoked welfare cards from millions.
“I challenge the Bhumjaithai Party to make this policy a campaign issue in the next election so the public can decide the fate of the welfare card cuts. I believe if the people reject this policy, the party will lose votes. But if the poor feel mistreated, knowing that the 300 baht aid helps sustain them, they will use this opportunity to teach the Bhumjaithai government a lesson,” he said.