Major political parties are locked in a contest of ever more generous handouts, welfare schemes and cash-based incentives, each attempting to outbid the other to secure votes. The People's Party has pushed for universal welfare policies requiring more than 172 billion baht annually. Across the political spectrum, the pattern is clear: policies revolve around injecting cash or reducing costs, with limited discussion of long-term fiscal trade-offs. He cautioned that expanded welfare commitments could create long-term fiscal burdens of up to 300 billion baht, potentially leading to higher taxes. Nonarit: 'Long-term fiscal burdens a risk'Paper tiger problemSomchai Srisutthiyakorn, a former election commissioner, has been among the most vocal critics of the EC's limited enforcement power.

Source: Bangkok Post January 25, 2026 21:51 UTC