Politics
Democrat Party Urges Defense Ministry to Review Frigate Procurement
The Democrat Party has called on the Ministry of Defense to cancel and restart the 17-billion-baht frigate procurement project due to a lack of competition.
According to a report by Thai Post on September 19, 2026, Phongsakorn Srisapha of the Democrat Party has publicly urged the government and the Ministry of Defense to reconsider the ongoing 17-billion-baht frigate procurement project. The party argues that the current bidding process lacks sufficient competition, which raises concerns regarding transparency and value for money.
Phongsakorn cited Ministry of Finance regulations, noting that if a procurement process results in only one qualified bidder, the authorities have the legal grounds to cancel the auction and initiate a new bidding round. The Democrat Party is calling for the Ministry of Defense to demonstrate 'courage in the right direction' by exercising this option to ensure a more competitive and fair selection process.
For residents and observers, this development highlights ongoing scrutiny over large-scale government defense spending. While the project is currently under review by political opposition, it remains to be seen whether the Ministry of Defense will acknowledge these concerns or proceed with the existing procurement plan. No official response from the Ministry has been confirmed at this time, and the status of the contract remains unchanged.
