Thai voters sour on ruling party over stalled handouts

Rest of funds will be used to help economy cope with impact of proposed US tariffs

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BANGKOK - Ms Rungthiwa Pimphanit waited months for a long-promised cash handout of 10,000 baht (S$394) from Thailand's ruling party, which she backed in the 2023 elections, but now the scheme to stimulate a stalling economy is on ice.

"I'm very disappointed and angry," said the 34-year-old government employee from the northeastern province of Nong Bua Lam Phu, who had counted on the money to pay for her son's school supplies. "There's no way I will vote for them again."

Ms Rungthiwa's hopes withered in May after news that the scheme—a key election plank of the ruling Pheu Thai Party—would be delayed, fuelling doubt about any recovery in South-east Asia's second-largest economy after years of tepid growth.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra blamed the steep tariffs proposed by the US, but the delay to her government's flagship programme, on which it has already spent 174 billion baht, poses a major political risk, say analysts.

"No one will believe anything they say," said Dr Thanaporn Sriyakul, director of the independent Political and Policy Analysis Institute. "The government must keep its (campaign) promises to the people. If they can't do what they said, it's over."