The Council of State says the government can proceed with promulgating a loan bill to borrow Bt500 billion to fund the digital wallet scheme, Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat said today.
He said the Council ruled that the cabinet and the digital wallet policy committee are authorised to implement the digital wallet scheme through such a bill.
He noted that the council had, however, warned that the government must strictly comply with the Fiscal Discipline Act, citing Section 53, which states that a loan bill can be issued only when there is a crisis or an urgent necessity, and Section 57, which states that the borrowing must be spent on a plan or project which is economically or socially worthwhile.
He also said that the council stated that the government must gauge the views of all stakeholders or hold public hearings.
Despite these three caveats, Julapun said he believes…
