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The Democrat Party wants the government to cut expenditure, citing the outlook for less government income and the potential for corruption.

Democrat MP Alongkorn Polburt yesterday urged the government to cut the budget for the 2009 fiscal year by 5 per cent. He said during the second reading of the budget bill that the government was expected to collect less tax due to the bleak outlook for the economy next year. If the government wanted to collect more tax, it would hurt taxpayers who would be suffering from an economic downturn, he said.

He also questioned the transparency of the budget.

Several Democrats also asked the government to cut the budget by 10 or 20 per cent. The government plans to spend Bt1.835 trillion, against a revenue projection of Bt1.585 trillion.

Meanwhile, Sathit Rangkasiri, adviser to the Revenue Department, was worried about decreased tax revenue due to the effect on tourism from the political crisis.