Kla Party leader Korn Chatikavanij is up and running again after getting his new party's affairs in order.
Veerakorn: Left with egg on his face
The former finance minister has been disseminating advice on what lifeline assistance should be provided to those economically affected by the Covid-19 outbreak.
Supporters said he was back on form "tackling head-on issues closest to the heart" after a long period of popping in and out of politics in the lead-up to and after registering his new party.
Political observers said the Covid-19 situation has reached a point where the government must execute swift containment measures with a firm hand and strong leadership.
The observers said the country may be gradually heading for a total lockdown as several provinces with rising Covid-19 infections have announced they were keeping local residents within their borders and outsiders out.
As more and more people stay at home and businesses, including tourism and services, are battered by the constraints of anti-virus policies, the economy is grinding to a halt with no end in sight, they warned.
Various politicians have leaped to the fore to offer advice they hope could help mitigate the doldrums. Others, however, are adamant in keeping the government in check over alleged irregularities regarding the shortages of face masks and, more recently, of eggs.
The coronavirus will have far-reaching ramifications on the economy, a subject which Mr Korn is ready and aptly qualified to comment on.
The former finance minister said this week that he thought the three million people -- to whom the government was providing 5,000-baht in financial aid so they can survive the economic crunch brought on by the virus outbreak -- might be too small a number.
In fact, Mr Korn indicated on his Facebook page the target of three million people may not even scratch the surface.
He insisted the coverage must be expanded to cover 24 million people who have suddenly found their livelihoods jeopardised by the pandemic.
Mr Korn broke this 24 million down into freelancers, farmers and low-income earners. Offering each person 5,000 baht would set the government back 120 billion baht a month or 360 billion baht over the three-month duration of the assistance.
The budget could be raised from loans secured by issuing an executive decree to take a chunk out of next year's budget, he said.
The ruling Palang Pracharath Party has also tried to reach out to its arch-rival, the main opposition Pheu Thai Party, to help debunk the myth that everyone who registered online for the 5,000-baht aid would immediately receive the money.
The reality is that after registering, the authorities will screen out ineligible individuals. Those whose eligibility is confirmed will need to wait at least seven days from the verification being finalised before they can pick up a cheque.
Mr Korn's suggestion may not have fallen on deaf ears after the government announced on Tuesday that nine million people in total will now be eligible for the 5,000-baht financial aid granted by the government to ease the impact of Covid-19.
Government spokeswoman Narumon Pinyosinwat said the cabinet approved access to the aid for an additional six million people after three million were earlier offered the cash giveaway.
The total cost to the government of the coverage will now be 135 billion baht.
The first of three tranches of payments will be made later this month.
A Government House source said the funds to finance the extended coverage will come from budgets pooled from various ministries.
Each ministry is to have its budget reduced by 10% in order to cover the aid package and also help to finance efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Korn: Tackles issues 'head-on'
Pandemic charm blitz backfires
Politicians tend to compete for media attention and popular support at the best of times and the Covid-19 pandemic has spurred many into action. However, not every move went well.
In early March, when the country faced price gouging amid a severe shortage of surgical face masks, Palang Pracharath (PPRP) MP for Bangkok Sira Jenjaka took it upon himself to secure the much sought after necessity for the public.
He bought the face masks at highly inflated prices -- between 14-17 baht apiece -- from online platforms to be distributed to people in need, only to find out later that the products' quality was not up to standard and might even pose a health risk to users. Recently, the Bangkok MP was seen handing out fabric masks instead, after his previous campaign backfired.
Late last month, when egg prices shot up by three to four times and markets across the country ran out because people were stockpiling out of fears of a possible lockdown, Mr Sira's fellow party colleague from Nakhon Sawan, Veerakorn Kamprakob, came up with the idea to sell affordable, standard-sized eggs at 3 baht apiece, in front of the party's offices.
The PPRP MP reportedly contacted suppliers to procure some 100,000 eggs to supply pop-up stores in Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Pathom and Bangkok to ease shortages caused by panic buying.
His plan, however, drew bricks instead of flowers -- with political activist Srisuwan Janya threatening to file a complaint with the Election Commission against the MP and his ruling party.
Mr Veerakorn's plan to sell eggs would have been welcomed if the emergency decree to strengthen efforts to contain the Covid-19 outbreak had not been declared.
According to critics, not only did the PPRP MP stand accused of hoarding goods and distorting market mechanisms, but he was also blamed for potentially drawing large crowds to the pop-up stores in defiance of the government's social distancing measures. It wasn't surprising then that Mr Veerakorn didn't hesitate to ditch the plan.
According to political observers, the mask handout and egg popup store plans were perhaps the most the PPRP MPs could do to show their frustration without offending the Democrat Party, its coalition partner that oversees the Commerce Ministry.
With parliament in recess and not due to reconvene until late May, the MPs cannot submit motions to get cabinet ministers to answer several tough questions dogging the administration.
Moreover, it remains unknown if the House can go about its usual business when it reopens on May 22. Sukit Atthopakorn, an adviser to House Speaker Chuan Leekpai, has insisted the House would reconvene as scheduled, but there is no guarantee the lawmakers can hold meetings if the pandemic has not subsided by then. If that is the case, Mr Chuan has the authority to postpone further House meetings.
It is believed that the House speaker is working on a contingency plan in case the pandemic persists.
According to observers, as they bide their time, politicians should collaborate to keep things moving and, if possible, they should propose "creative" solutions with a focus on cushioning the impact of the outbreak on people's livelihoods.
"The economic impact [from the virus] is as serious as the spread of the virus itself, which is being handled by the medical community.
"The outbreak has caused severe economic disruptions and uncertainties. Politicians can help by finding measures to mitigate the crisis and protect people's livelihoods," said an observer.
