BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand’s House of Representatives has delayed consideration of a 400 billion baht ($11 billion) emergency borrowing decree pending a Constitutional Court ruling on a challenge filed by opposition lawmakers.
During a parliamentary session on 14 May 2026, Second Deputy House Speaker Lertsak Pattanachaiyakul informed lawmakers that the Cabinet had approved a royal decree authorising the Finance Ministry to borrow funds to address the impact of the energy crisis and support the country’s energy transition.
Before House Speaker Sophon Saram could place the decree on the parliamentary agenda, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, leader of the opposition People’s Party, submitted a petition signed by 135 lawmakers seeking a Constitutional Court review.
The petition argues that the emergency decree may violate Section 172 of Thailand’s constitution, which governs the issuance of emergency royal decrees.
Under Section 173 of the constitution, parliamentary consideration of the decree must be suspended until the Constitutional Court reaches a decision.
The constitution requires the court to issue a ruling within 60 days from receiving the petition and notify the House speaker of its decision.
If the court rules that the decree violates the constitution, the measure will be deemed void from the outset. Such a ruling requires support from at least two-thirds of the sitting Constitutional Court judges, currently six of the court’s nine members.
Local media reported that Sophon submitted the petition to the Constitutional Court on 12 May 2026, and the court’s office has formally acknowledged receipt of the case.
