BANGKOK, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Constitutional Court is set to rule on the legality of an emergency decree authorizing the government of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to borrow up to 400 billion baht (about 11.97 billion U.S. dollars) to address an energy crisis.
The petition, filed by 133 opposition lawmakers, challenges the decree under a constitutional provision that allows emergency borrowing only in cases of urgent necessity related to national economic security.
Under the plan approved by the cabinet in May, 200 billion baht would be used to alleviate cost-of-living pressures arising from the Middle East conflict, while the remainder would support the country's transition toward renewable energy.
Opposition members of parliament argue that the 200 billion baht earmarked for energy transition is below that threshold and was not an unavoidable emergency requiring bypass of normal parliamentary budget procedures.
Should the court uphold the decree, analysts say the government would be authorized to move forward, despite the House of Representatives having already deferred a vote on associated budget allocations.
If the court on Thursday rules the energy transition component unconstitutional, it may mandate a revision of the decree; alternatively, a more comprehensive adverse ruling could result in the retroactive voiding of the decree.
There is no legal requirement for the government to resign if the decree is struck down, but opposition figures say Anutin could face pressure to step down or dissolve parliament as a matter of political accountability. ■
