Emergency parliament unanimously approves budget
If coup leader Prayuth Chan-ocha wants a parliament of yes-men, he was served at his beck and call yesterday. After a four-hour debate, in which no military member of the NLA spoke, the emergency parliament (NLA, National Legislative Assembly) unanimously approved the 2015 budget (October 1, 2014-September 30, 2015) at first reading.
It was Prayuth himself who presented the budget to parliament and gave a half-hour explanation of the plans. Not as we know him in military uniform, but in a suit with a neatly tied tie. He sat in the chair where the Prime Minister normally sits. Seventeen members of parliament, all citizens, took part in the debate.
The 2015 budget provides for expenditures of 2,57 trillion baht, revenues of 2,32 trillion baht and a deficit of 250 billion baht or 9,7 percent. Spending should stimulate the economy by 6,3 percent at an estimated inflation rate of 2,3 percent.
Prayuth said efforts have been made to avoid excessive debt, which could hurt the economy. The guiding principle was the principle of sustainable economy, a hobbyhorse of the king. An attempt has also been made to solve the problems of unequal distribution of funds.
The most money goes to the Ministry of Education: 498 billion baht, followed by the Ministry of the Interior with 341 billion baht. Defense may spend 193 billion baht, 5,3 percent more than this year and Finance will receive 186 billion baht. The planned investments focus on projects that can be put out to tender in the first quarter of the budget year.
Prayuth further said that the NCPO (junta) is committed to a more equitable distribution of land, as large areas of the country are not yet developed. There will be legislation aimed at encouraging large landowners to rent land to farmers.
The budget is now being scrutinized by a parliamentary committee and will be returned to parliament in two readings (and votes). Then it goes to the Senate to be finally ratified with a royal signature and published in the Royal Gazette.
(Source: Bangkok Post, August 19, 2014
A budget deficit of 10 (ten) percent? And no one raises his voice? Was it not the opponents of a democratically elected government who objected to excessive government spending? "A slight deficit," said Prayuth.
The defense budget will increase by 5.3 percent. Afterwards, General Prayuth replied to a question about this: 'If we do not increase the (defence) budget and buy new weapons, then no one will be afraid of us'. (website Bankok Pundit and BP on line)
If one were to start levying a vacancy tax on real estate (read condos) that remain empty for a long time (sometimes years) unsold, for example, sales would stimulate and therefore again yield tax, now the dead capital remains once built and due to too high price expectation of…… promoters, not the “between variety”)….Otherwise he should get his light up in our low countries…; they can guide him in all kinds of other tax versions ...!!
I just read an article titled "the farmers are the poor child" or something like that.
My wife has a number of rai (80) with sugar cane and according to her the government intervenes with some kind of subsidy (don't quite get it either) to stimulate this in Isaan.
Anyone have any idea if this will also suffer because I don't have the impression that she is left with much of it now?
I've already told her to sell the whole thing, but she doesn't want to hear about it.
I certainly have the impression that the annual expenses already make the yield very small.
Also someone who has experience with sugar cane can certainly respond; I would like to get to know someone who has experience there or know someone who has.
Dank U
@ John52 According to Bangkok Post today, the junta's policy is to end subsidizing agricultural products.
@John52; also my girlfriend has some rai with sugarcane. (not 80, but she rents quite a bit) But as you say, if I do the math, you won't be left with anything. But yes, status hey “I have land” If you take the lease, planting every three years, fertilizer every year, hire people to cut down, have them transported to the sugar factory and deduct it from the proceeds, then you have nothing left . Have also suggested “Cutting that trade” Never mind, don't intervene. But don't give money, because they say it pays off, right?