No need for “bodyguards” during budget bill debate – PM

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said today that he does not need “bodyguards”, a term used to describe MPs who speak to defend a minister, during the 3-day debate on the 2024 fiscal budget bill starting on Wednesday.

He said that every minister, including himself, has the duty to explain to parliament any issues raised by opposition MPs regarding the budget for their ministry.

The prime minister will spend about half an hour providing an overview of the budget and the reasoning behind allocations.

The 2024 budget bill was supposed to come into effect last October 1st, but it has been delayed, partly because the government only took office in August last year.

Regarding the 500 billion baht loan bill, needed to fund the “digital wallet” scheme, the prime minister said that it is waiting for the Council of State to determine its constitutionality.

Sirikanya Tansakul, deputy…