CASH HANDOUTS VIA LOTTERIES: PLOY OR SOUND POLICY?
Economic pledges by some political parties have made national headlines, including eye-catching promises of cash handouts, lotteries, subsidies and debt moratoriums.
Parties are offering fiscal policies such as the second phase of Bhumjaithai’s co-payment subsidy scheme, that in stage one covered half of the cost of selected food and consumer goods, or Pheu Thai’s income top-up for those earning below 36,000 baht per year. The People’s Party has also pledged to provide a 1,000 baht co-payment top-up for 12 million people.
Parties have also pledged monthly cash handouts for different groups – from mothers to the elderly and people with disabilities.
However, what has garnered more attention from voters has been lottery schemes rolled out by various parties.
The Pheu Thai Party, a dominant force in Thai politics for decades, has unveiled what it calls a “millionaire-maker” scheme.
Pheu Thai, which was founded by currently jailed billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra, is renowned for huge electoral war chests and pushing through populist policies that have garnered support from the working class.
If elected, it proposes a daily lucky draw, giving nine people 1,000,000 baht each day.
The People’s Party, a progressive movement that grew out of the Move Forward Party- which garnered the most votes in the 2023 election before being dissolved by the Constitutional Court in August 2024 – is pitching a receipt lottery scheme.
Under the proposal, official receipts from smaller businesses would double as lottery tickets. This gives buyers an incentive to ask for receipts for their purchases, making it harder for businesses to hide sales.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/thailand-election-2026-debt-worries-economic-uncertainty-worry-voters-5906416
