Are political parties promising more than the country can afford?

13 Sept 14:04 Key points summarised by AI

**Concerns Mount Over Populist Pledges**: Thai business, finance, and academic leaders warn that political parties' populist cash handout promises risk long-term fiscal instability and national debt.
**Unsustainable Economic Stimuli**: Experts argue that increased welfare spending, debt relief, and tax breaks offer short-term gains but fail to address structural issues, creating a burden for future generations.
**Demand for Fiscal Transparency**: Industry leaders and economists urge parties to outline clear funding sources and frameworks for their policies, advocating for investments that build capacity over dependency-fostering handouts.
**Fiscal Credibility at Risk**: With declining tax revenue and rising deficits, experts emphasize that policies lacking sustainable funding will undermine Thailand's fiscal credibility and necessitate unavoidable tax increases.

Nationwide crackdown launched on illegal nominee shareholders and land holdings

Yesterday 15:20 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul initiated a nationwide crackdown on illegal Thai nominee shareholders in foreign-run businesses and land holdings to safeguard national interests.
The government will integrate efforts across all relevant agencies to target illicit foreign operations, forced sales of illegally acquired property, and high-risk land ownership schemes.
Key strategies include auditing suspect land and building holdings, establishing a long-term monitoring system, and cross-referencing data from various authorities to trace ultimate beneficial owners.
Prime Minister Anutin emphasized that no influential figures or corrupt officials are above the law, promising straightforward prosecution, asset seizures, and protection for enforcing officers.
Beyond land ownership, the integrated crackdown will also extend to tackle transnational crimes, including drug and human trafficking.