It is a political custom under governments of all stripes that they roll out a set of measures they call "New Year gifts" to the public at the end of each year.
This year is no different. Despite the parties having started their election campaigns in earnest ahead of a likely May 2023 poll, and the Election Commission (EC) warning parties to beware of providing enticements to win votes, Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha is going full steam ahead with plans for a year-end package of gifts, just as his predecessors have done.
He has instructed ministries to propose new measures as "gifts" to the public for cabinet consideration by the middle of this month. Several agencies are preparing to bring back various freebies and special public services during the year-end period as part of the package.
The ministries are likely to offer the same freebies that they handed out last year -- such as waivers or discounts on fees and fares of services during the New Year holidays.
Many other "gifts" are just short-term measures with limited impact. Over the past years and especially since Covid, the government has treated cash handouts that derive from taxpayer or borrowed money as "gifts" under the New Year policy, by citing the need to help those less fortunate.
But this year will be different as, given the proximity of the election and the fact the official countdown has already started, such measures could be perceived as political campaigning.
The government's four-year term will end in less than five months and the election is set for May next year. Yet unlike in previous elections in which parties were given 30–40 days for campaigning, the new election law expands the pre-election period to 180 days (six months).
The 180-day pre-election period officially began on Sept 24, when parties and prospective candidates were advised by the EC not to break election regulations enticing people to vote for particular candidates or parties. The regulations serve as a guideline for parties and would-be candidates as to what they can and cannot do between now and election day, planned for May 7.
One regulation is that during the 180-day period, parties and MP candidates are not allowed to offer constituents any gifts or benefits, or make them promises which could be construed as enticements. Yet the rules are not applied to cabinet ministers and political office-holders who are performing their duties.
A question is raised: could those gifts will be used as a political tool to gain popularity ahead of the election? The opposition is rightly wary that the government may try to extract an advantage of using its New Year gifts as part of its political campaign. Such a practice would be unacceptable.
The government argues some of the "gifts" to be launched this year-end include vital financial measures that are part of its policy to help stimulate the economy, encourage consumers to spend and reduce the cost of living.
For example, the measures that are perceived as "gifts" are expected to include the "Khon La Khrueng" co-payment scheme, the "Shop Dee Mee Khuen" tax rebate scheme and the "We Travel Together" tourism stimulus campaign to promote travel and spending.
However, given the budgets likely to be involved, the premier must make sure the gifts do not end up resembling the populist big-spend campaigns typically rolled out in the past to help parties win votes.
