Court Challenge Puts Thailand’s Crisis Loan Plan in Doubt

Anutin Charnvirakul’s borrowing plan is intended to fund cash handouts to millions of people and support small businesses hit by rising costs.Photographer: Chanakarn Laosarakham/AFP/Getty Images

Thailand’s Constitutional Court will hear a challenge to the government’s 400 billion baht ($12 billion) emergency borrowing plan, casting uncertainty over its response to rising energy costs.

The court said in a statement Monday that it would review whether the decree, which allows the Finance Ministry to raise funds without parliamentary approval, meets constitutional requirements for urgent necessity, following a petition from 133 lawmakers.