Thai government’s 500 billion baht digital wallet under scrutiny

The funding sources for the government’s flagship 500 billion baht handout scheme, better known as the digital wallet, will undergo careful consideration, ensuring that public debt remains manageable, a senior government official stated today.

This scheme is a crucial campaign pledge of the ruling Pheu Thai Party, intending to distribute 10,000 baht to 50 million Thai citizens to stimulate local spending. However, due to concerns over securing adequate funding, the implementation of this initiative has been delayed.

The execution of the giveaway is now expected to take place in the fourth quarter of this year, as the government explores various avenues to secure the necessary funding. This week, the Cabinet greenlit an increase in the deficit for the 2025 fiscal year budget by 152.7 billion baht to support this initiative.

Despite these developments, the plan has drawn criticism…