Govt says FY2026 central contingency budget has 30bn baht left as FY2027 budget process awaits new cabinet
Minister Paradon says around 30 billion baht remains in the FY2026 central contingency fund as the government manages spending until the FY2027 budget bill—worth 3.78 trillion baht—takes effect, tentatively expected in December 2026.
Paradon Prissanananthakul, Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, provided an update on preparations for the FY2027 annual budget bill, saying he has held initial discussions with Anan Kaewkamnerd, director of the Budget Bureau. He said that once a new government is formed, it is expected to proceed with drafting the FY2027 budget in line with the planned timetable.
As for reviewing the overall budget framework—set at 3.78 trillion baht—and the projects submitted by government agencies, Paradon said the incoming government will need to review them as part of the process. However, he expects there will be no major changes in detail, in order to keep to the existing budget calendar, under which the FY2027 Budget Act is expected to come into force by December this year.
Asked about the remaining balance in the FY2026 central budget under the contingency reserve for emergencies and urgent necessity, Paradon said around 30 billion baht remains. The government must manage the use of this budget until the FY2027 Budget Act is enacted.
Meanwhile, Ekniti Nitithanprapas, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, said the process of accelerating the FY2027 budget bill still depends on the Election Commission (EC) certifying the election results. He added that one advantage of the outgoing government is continuity of work.
He said he has also held discussions with the Budget Bureau, noting that preparations for drafting the FY2027 budget bill had already been made in advance. The government will do everything possible to prevent delays in the budget’s enactment.
Asked whether the FY2027 budget framework would be reviewed, Ekniti said the overall budget envelope would remain unchanged under the Medium-Term Fiscal Framework. However, details—such as stimulus spending and central budget allocations—could be adjusted, and the extent of any changes would depend on coalition parties, meaning specifics could not yet be provided.
“If a government is formed quickly, delays will be kept to a minimum. Before the dissolution of Parliament was announced, we accelerated this work significantly because we knew the dissolution was coming and did not want the FY2027 budget to be delayed for too long,” he said.
The Finance Ministry has projected that the formation of a new government could delay the FY2027 budget’s enactment by about three months, or one quarter. This assumption has already been incorporated into the Finance Ministry’s outlook for Thailand’s 2026 economy, which it forecasts will grow by 2%.
However, Ekniti added that unofficial election results have indicated fairly clearly that Bhumjaithai Party will lead the formation of the next government, which could help ensure continuity, as the current administration remains in office in a caretaker capacity. This, he said, could allow the FY2027 budget to take effect sooner.
