2023’s top stories: Digital wallet scheme dominates government’s policy debate this year

In its election campaign for the May general election, the Pheu Thai Party — out of power for nearly a decade — focused on economic matters, promising higher economic growth in its bid to woo the electorate.

Among its controversial policies was the digital wallet handout scheme costing 560 billion baht.

The party promised to dole out 10,000 baht to every citizen aged 16 years and above, with the aim of boosting domestic consumption. The party hoped to come back to power on the back of its populist economic platform, as in the past.

The expected landslide victory, however, did not happen. Pheu Thai finished second behind the Move Forward Party, which promised economic and political reforms. During the first stage of negotiations to form a coalition government led by Move Forward, there was little reference to Pheu Thai’s digital wallet scheme.

Senators appointed by junta…