After the coup d’état in May, Thailand’s national budget for honouring the royal family has increased significantly by approximately 20 per cent from around 14 billion baht or about US$435 million this year to over 17 billion baht or about US$536 million next year.
The budget for preserving the honour of the royal household in 2015 will exceed the budget allocated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, and five other ministries.
If divided by time, an annual budget for preserving the honour of the monarchy will cost:
32,854 baht or US$1,019 per minute
1,971,262 baht or US$61,168 per hour
47,310,290 baht or US$1,468,038 per day
On Tuesday, the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) reached consensus to pass the budget for honouring the royal family in 2015, proposed by the parliamentary committee, which has now been published in the royal gazette.
The budget for honouring the royal family, which is distributed to public agencies to print posters of the royal family members, build monuments, and organize events on important occasions relating to the monarchy, such as HM the King’s Birthday which also doubles Father’s Day.
For the first time, the budget allocates funds for honouring the monarchy to three new institutions after the coup d’état: the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, the Department of Employment, and the Department of Skill Development.
The budget for honouring the royal family will be allocated to a total of 18 public institutions:
Ministry of Finance and Budget Bureau
Article 4 (1) Budget for Royal Projects, 2.5 billion baht
Article 4 (2) Budget for traveling expenses and welcoming other head of states, 800 million baht
Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office
Article 5 (1) Budget for protecting and preserving the honour of the monarchy 136 million baht
Secretariat of the Prime Minister
Article 5 (4/1) Budget for protecting and preserving the honour of the monarchy, 5.6 billion baht
Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior
Article 6 (1/3) Budget for protecting and preserving the honour of the monarchy, 889 million baht
Royal Aide-De-Camp Department
Article 6 (2/1) Budget for protecting and preserving the honour of the monarchy, 620 million baht
Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters
Article 6 (3/4) Budget for protecting and preserving the honour of the monarchy, 93 million baht
Royal Thai Army
Article 6 (4/4) Budget for protecting and preserving the honour of the monarchy, 310 million baht
Royal Thai Navy
Article 6 (5/4) Budget for protecting and preserving the honour of the monarchy, 12 million baht
Royal Air Force
Article 6 (6/4) Budget for protecting and preserving the honour of the monarchy, 35 million baht
Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior
Article 17 (1/3) Budget for protecting and preserving the honour of the monarchy, 70 million baht
Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning
Article 17 (6/3) Budget for protecting and preserving the honour of the monarchy, 865 million baht
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour
Article 19 (1/5) Budget for protecting and preserving the honour of the monarchy, 5 million baht
Department of Employment
Article 19 (2/4) Budget for protecting and preserving the honour of the monarchy, 8 million baht
Department of Skill Development
Article 19 (3/3) Budget for protecting and preserving the honour of the monarchy, 34 million baht
Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary
Article 25 (1/1) Budget for protecting and preserving the honour of the monarchy, 829 million baht
Bureau of the Royal Household
Article 25 (2/1) Budget for protecting and preserving the honour of the monarchy, 3.3 billion baht
Office of Royal Development Projects Board
Article 25 (4/1) Budget for protecting and preserving the honour of the monarchy, 674 million baht
Royal Thai Police
Article 25 (7/4) Budget for protecting and preserving the honour of the monarchy, 501 million baht