Court to issue Pichet ruling on Friday
The court announced Wednesday it had ordered the inclusion of both parties' closing statements in the case file, ruling the evidence and legal arguments were sufficient for a decision.
Final deliberations will begin at 9.30am, with the ruling scheduled for 3pm.
The case was filed by People's Party MP Bhuntin Noumjerm and 120 other MPs who alleged Mr Pichet had influenced the approval of three budget proposals from the Secretariat of the House of Representatives.
He said Mr Pichet, a Pheu Thai MP, directed his adviser to draft seminar proposals focused primarily on his home province, later reallocating the funds to other initiatives.
The actions may contravene Section 144 of the constitution, which prohibits lawmakers from altering or adding to the budget bill in a manner that leads to the misuse of state funds, according to Mr Bhuntin.
Mr Pichet's proposals drew objections from the Office of Policy and Planning and Office of Finance for not complying with parliamentary regulations and may breach constitutional spending provisions.
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Mr Olarn said Cambodia has outperformed Thailand on many fronts in the conflict, such as international diplomacy, and unity between the government and its military. Nonetheless, the conservative camp sees Thaksin and his networks as necessary, so they are likely to maintain their status for now. However, Mr Olarn expressed doubts about Pheu Thai's chances of winning the next elections though Ms Paetongtarn is likely to hold on to the prime minister post as long as there is no court order to remove her from office. Public backlash Prathuang Muang-on, a lecturer at Ubon Ratchathani University's political science faculty, said the border conflict has eroded confidence in the ruling party, pointing to open hostility toward Thaksin during his recent visit to Ubon Ratchathani to support civilians displaced by the clashes. While the lower Northeast is traditionally not a stronghold for Pheu Thai's constituency MPs, the party has performed well in the party-list system. 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Full-blown crisis of faith Bhumjaithai Party deputy leader Siripong Angkasakulkiat said the government faces a deep lack of public confidence, and its actions, whether from Thaksin, Ms Paetongtarn or acting prime minister Phumtham Wechayachai, have done little to inspire confidence. He criticised the government's handling of the border conflict, saying it should have relied on formal, state-level diplomacy. Instead, the government's tone comes across as personal, which has stirred suspicions. Mr Siripong also pointed to a lack of coordination and strategic direction within the administration. Many officials appear hesitant to act if there are no clear instructions, possibly out of fear of making missteps or displeasing their superiors or the public. "They do what only they are told. When there are no clear orders, nothing gets done. The government communication has been one-sided, focusing only on positive news without offering a clear, comprehensive plan to address the crisis," he said. Mr Siripong said the Pheu Thai-led government has a chance to prove itself, but missed it. "What they now face is a full-blown crisis of public faith," he said. Asked whether the Shinawatra family still carries weight, he said Thailand risks heading down a path similar to Cambodia, where political power remains in a single family. On the government's fate, he said the ruling party's focus is on short-term populist projects, such as the 20-baht electric train fare policy, with which it hopes to score quick wins ahead of elections. However, it is unclear if this will work. Pheu Thai could slip to the third place and win fewer than 100 seats in the next polls. "The government's future hinges on two key events: the court's ruling on Ms Paetongtarn's case and the outcome of the next censure debate. Based on the current public mood, it's hard to see this administration lasting much longer," he said.
