The opposition is preparing for a series of high-stakes parliamentary battles in the coming weeks, focusing on the government's proposed fiscal year 2027 budget, a budget transfer bill for 2026 and scrutiny of the controversial TH-AI Passport project, says Parit Wacharasindhu, the chief opposition whip.
Mr Parit, who is also a party-list MP from the People's Party (PP), said the House is expected to begin first-reading deliberations on the FY2027 Budget Bill within the next month.
The opposition is also preparing to examine a government-sponsored bill that would authorise the transfer of expenditure allocations within the 2026 fiscal budget. The government has argued that funds from projects deemed unnecessary could be reallocated for other purposes. The opposition, however, intends to closely investigate how much funding can actually be transferred and whether the proposed reallocations are justified.
Both measures are expected to reach parliament during the same period, requiring intensive preparation by lawmakers. Their efforts will run alongside the work of a special parliamentary committee established earlier to examine the government's use of a 400-billion-baht emergency loan decree.
"The key objective is to ensure that taxpayers' money is spent on projects and activities that provide value for money, and are implemented transparently," Mr Parit said.
He also reiterated the PP's demand for the government to review the TH-AI Passport project, arguing irregularities have emerged both in its implementation process and in its Terms of Reference (TOR). The project has drawn criticism because it did not go through the normal budget approval process.
Mr Parit said questionable TOR provisions are not unique to the TH-AI Passport initiative. He pointed to a previously approved Skill/Credit Portfolio system project under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, launched when the ministry was overseen by a minister from the ruling Bhumjaithai Party.
Mr Parit said he had raised concerns about that project during both committee deliberations and the second reading of the FY2026 Budget Bill, but the majority ultimately approved the proposal.
