Candidates push economic reforms

A fundamental overhaul of the credit bureau system is needed as the current practice of blacklisting borrowers for three years after a single default has excluded around 5 million working-age Thais from formal finance, says Atavit Suwanpakdee of the United Thai Nation Party.

- MONGKOL BANGPRAPA

He proposed replacing it with a credit score-based framework that would restore access immediately after debts are repaid and reward responsible borrowers with lower interest rates.

Mr Atavit also pledged further electricity price cuts, noting that previous measures have saved consumers an estimated 270 billion baht.

Structural transformation and growth were the focus of Pichai Naripthaphan, a representative of the Pheu Thai Party, who said Thailand must break free from decades of middle-income stagnation.

He argued that economic growth must accelerate to 5%, driven by exports and investment, and called for the development of Thai e-commerce unicorns to stem capital outflows.