Pheu Thai confident on 2026 budget bill amid casino tensions
Deliberations on the 2026 budget bill are anticipated to start late next month in the House, with the ruling Pheu Thai Party expressing confidence in its passage, despite mounting tensions within the government coalition over the push to legalise casinos in Thailand.
A Pheu Thai MP, Sutin Klungsang, announced that the bill will be discussed in a Parliamentary session scheduled for April 29 to 29.
In response to reports suggesting potential dissolution of the government due to internal disagreements about the proposed casino legislation, Sutin emphasised that coalition parties should not allow a single contentious proposal to destabilise the entire partnership.
Sutin expressed confidence that the discord over the casino bill would not influence the budget bill discussions. He stressed the essential nature of the budget bill for national governance, describing voting against it over a minor issue as immature.
Furthermore, the former defence minister criticised the Senate for advising the House of Representatives to delay proposing additional measures until the Senate reviews the draft legislation. The Senate also warned of an ethics probe against MPs advocating for the swift passage of the casino-entertainment complex bill.
Sutin stated that the legislative process must adhere to constitutional procedures and dismissed threats of investigations as baseless.
In a separate statement, Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, deputy leader of the United Thai Nation Party, confirmed that all 36 MPs from his party would support the 2026 budget bill, underscoring its role in advancing national policies and addressing public issues.
He acknowledged differences among coalition parties but noted a shared commitment to supporting the bill.
The Senate committee examining the casino-entertainment complex bill is set to hold its inaugural meeting on April 23 to elect members and outline its scope of work. Senator Veerapun Suvannamai stressed the importance of a politically neutral committee chairman, focused on national interests over partisanship.
Veerapun indicated that the committee would evaluate the potential economic benefits of casinos and their impact on geopolitics, trade, crime, and youth.
Senator Chaiyong Maneerungsakul highlighted the need to weigh the bill’s pros and cons, noting that while legal casinos might generate revenue, they wouldn’t eradicate illegal gambling, reported Bangkok Post.
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