Thai Parliament passes 2014 budget bill

BANGKOK, August 24 (TNA) - The House of Representatives approved late Friday night the Thai government’s spending expenditure for the 2014 fiscal year, starting from October 1, 2013, amounting about 2.53 trillion baht. The Thai House voted 290 in favour of the 2014 budget bill, with a deficit of 250 billion baht, while 136 voted against it and 21 abstained. Despite complaints from the major opposition Democrat Party over the massive amount of the 2014 fiscal budget, the draft government expenditure bill sailed through the second, the third and the final reading at about 11:30pm. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittirat Na-Ranong thanked the House members after the bill sailed through the Lower House, promising that the Thai government will spend the state budget with transparency and efficiency for the public and national interest. The 2014 fiscal budget bill has now been forwarded to the Thai Senate for its final approval. (TNA)