Shadow govt calls for govt to solve economic problems

After its first meeting Monday , party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, who also leads the shadow cabinet, said the country's economic problems should be regarded as urgent because people are in trouble and expect the government to step in and sort things out.

Besides controlling the rising prices of consumer goods and farmers' debts, the government should also pay attention to credit card debts.

Meanwhile, the administration should also consider lifting the central bank's 30 per cent capital reserve measure along with maintaining the currency exchange rate, he said.

The Democrats back the government's mega projects, provided it can be proved that they are worth the budget and not just a reason to pouring money into the system to stimulate economy, he said.

While solving poverty, the government should consider the different needs in different areas of the country, he said.

Abhisit said the opposition's shadow Cabinet would meet every Thursday morning before the parliamentary session and will discuss urgent issues to come up with suggestions for the government.

The Democrat leader added that his cabinet's work would not overlap with the jobs of other organisations, explaining that the opposition was a parliamentary mechanism to scrutinise the government.

by Kornchanok Raksaseri

The Nation