BANGKOK, 13 July 2015 – The Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) has heeded a government-suggested revision of wordings within Sections 199-205 of the draft charter to better prevent the use of state funds on populist policies.
CDC members met to deliberate the treasury and budgetary stipulations of sections 199-205 within the draft permanent constitution, and opted to maintain the principles of the first draft. The stipulations sought to ensure financial discipline and prevent the expenditure of funds on populist policies. The CDC members, in heeding a suggestion by the government, have revised the wording to be more precise. The purpose of sections 199-205 is to ensure fairness in economic and social undertakings, as well as efficient and beneficial expenditure of funds. Under the stipulations, policies that draw on the state’s budget must go through an analysis process, must be worth the money, and must have a clear source of funds.
In order to avoid interpretation problems in the future, CDC members have removed the definition of ‘state money’ previously provided in Section 200 of the draft charter.
