Democrats Propose ฿65,000 Baby Grant, ฿1,000 Pensions, Free Schooling

A return to the campaign trail by Thailand’s oldest political party has reopened an intense debate over how far the state should go—and can afford to go—in protecting society’s youngest and oldest citizens. From a 65,000-baht one-off payment for every newborn to a universal 1,000-baht pension for everyone aged 60 and above, the Democrat Party is betting that an ambitious welfare package will reconnect it with voters in the South and regain lost ground in Bangkok.

Key points voters are weighing right now:

• Cash for babies worth 65,000 baht up-front, plus an 18-year savings plan.

• Flat-rate pensions of 1,000 baht a month beginning at 60, replacing today’s tiered scheme.

• Free schooling for 15 years upgraded to cover uniforms, buses and lunches.

• Economists warn of a ฿180 B-plus annual bill and ask whether taxes—or debt—will close the gap.

A Southern Homecoming On The Stump

The party of Chuan and Abhisit once dominated the Malay-speaking South, but the 2023 poll left it nursing a mere 25 seats nationwide. On Wednesday, former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva headed for a dawn walkabout at Si Chon’s Thewada market, flanked by first-time candidate Charnwatthana Itsarawattana. Shoppers heard a message heavy on “practical compassion,” a phrase Abhisit repeated while handing out leaflets that promised clean money over grey money, a pointed reference to widening allegations of vote-buying in the region. Party strategists hope the mix of cash entitlements, anti-corruption rhetoric, and nostalgic appeals to the South’s once-reliable “blue” vote will restore morale among grassroots canvassers.

What the 65,000-Baht Baby Grant Looks Like

Under the banner “Thais Out of Poverty,” every registered birth would trigger a ฿65,000 lump sum during the first year. A further ฿5,000 per month would reach families for 12 months, while a state-backed savings plan would deposit ฿500 monthly into an account that could reach ฿100,000 by the child’s 18th birthday. Party economists argue the scheme tackles Thailand’s plummeting fertility rate, now below 1.3 births per woman, and narrows inequality by giving rural newborns the same start enjoyed in Bangkok. Critics counter that similar incentives in South Korea and Tokyo raised births only marginally; success, they say, required bundled measures such as child-care leave, subsidised housing and low-cost nurseries—elements largely absent from the Democrat blueprint.

Universal 1,000-Baht Pension: Promise vs. Numbers

Thailand currently hands seniors ฿600–1,000 depending on age brackets. By flattening the system at ฿1,000 for all, Democrats hail a return to the party’s 2009 legacy when it created the nation’s first universal old-age allowance. Yet the Finance Ministry projects that pension rolls will swell from 13 M recipients today to almost 20 M within 12 years, pushing the annual bill past ฿180 B—roughly 10 % of all spending. Fiscal scholars from Chulalongkorn University warn of a structural deficit unless new revenue, such as a carbon tax or luxury-property levy, is tapped. Abhisit’s reply: Thailand’s ageing crisis is so advanced that “not spending is more expensive” once health costs tied to poverty are tallied.

Comparing the Blueprint with Regional Peers

Looking abroad, the Democrat plan mirrors Poland’s Family 800+, Norway’s child benefit, and Singapore’s Action Plan for Successful Ageing, yet it omits the Scandinavian-style focus on integrated long-term care. For infants, countries like Denmark pair cash with parental leave of up to 1 year, while Sweden guarantees 480 days shared between parents. On pensions, the Netherlands covers seniors with payments equal to 70 % of net wages, financed by a mix of payroll contributions and general taxation. Analysts say Thailand could blend its low starting point with community-based services pioneered in Japan’s integrated care system, thus stretching baht further than pure cash transfers.

Can the Budget Carry the Weight?

Where the money would come from remains the acid test. Campaign documents hint at reallocating low-impact subsidies, axing redundant provincial funds, and widening the VAT base while keeping the 7 % headline rate untouched. Public Policy Asia, an independent think tank, calculates that newborn grants, pensions, disability top-ups and school-meal expansions could demand ฿260 B a year at full rollout—roughly the size of the entire Public Health budget. The group’s modelling shows debt-to-GDP climbing two percentage points unless growth revives to 4 % annually, a level unseen since 2012. Even sympathisers concede that without a credible revenue roadmap, the agenda may be rebranded by rivals as an expensive wish list rather than a poverty cure.

What It Means for Voters in Thailand

For millions juggling high food prices and stagnant wages, the promise of tangible monthly cash is undeniably attractive. Parents in Nakhon Si Thammarat told this reporter they already earmark ฿4,000–5,000 a month for baby formula and school fees. Seniors in Bangkok’s Lat Phrao, where list MP Ongart Khlampaiboon is canvassing, say an extra ฿300–400 a month would cover electricity or a dentist visit. Yet the wider electorate has heard big welfare pledges before; delivering them without stoking inflation or forcing future cuts will decide whether the Democrat Party’s welfare offensive becomes a historic comeback or just another campaign footnote.