Tip of the iceberg?

The recent disqualification of Pheu Thai MP, Pichet Chuamuangphan, for violating Section 144 of the constitution has drawn renewed attention to the 2025 budget expenditure examination process, with political observers saying that it could lead to a potentially seismic political shakeup.

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Section 144 prohibits members of parliament from altering or adding an item or amount to the budget bill in a way that constitutes a direct or indirect misuse of budgetary funds.

Mr Pichet, who represented Chiang Rai's Constituency 7, was disqualified on Aug 1 by the Constitutional Court, which ruled that he had violated the charter by diverting state budget allocations for use in his own constituency. The court ruling, which also effectively stripped him of his deputy speaker role, banned him from running for office for 10 years.

According to observers, the case against Mr Pichet looks to have far-reaching implications, as the same rule could apply to other lawmakers and cabinet ministers who supported the budget expenditure for the 2025 fiscal year.

Under the bill, funds worth 35 billion baht, which were originally allocated for debt repayments to state-run banks, were redirected to the government's flagship digital wallet scheme, a move seen by critics as constitutionally dubious.

A petition was lodged with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to delve into the matter by former Democrat Party MP Charnchai Issarasenarak, former senator Somchai Swangkarn, and former adviser to the Constitutional Drafting Committee Jade Donavanik.