PUBLISHED : 9 Apr 2026 at 05:36
Economy Party list MP Chris Potranandana has stepped up his campaign to abolish parliamentary pensions, declaring all three of the party’s MPs will refuse to claim the benefit while calling for public disclosure of former lawmakers currently receiving lifetime payments.
Speaking at parliament, Mr Chris said the issue sparked heated debate in the House last week after he criticised a system under which some MPs serve only a single term — or even just a few months — yet remain eligible for monthly pensions for life.
He said some lawmakers effectively “hit the jackpot” by briefly entering parliament, then qualifying for around 24,000 baht per month in pension payments funded by taxpayers.
Mr Chris said former lawmakers aged over 60 could receive a total of 4–5 million baht, while younger MPs who enter parliament in their 30s and serve only one term could receive benefits for decades, potentially totalling 9–10 million baht over their lifetime.
He argued the pension system should be scrapped to save public money, saying it costs the state more than 400 million baht annually.
Responding to criticism on social media that he and fellow Economy Party MPs would also benefit from the same system, Mr Chris said he and the party’s two other MPs would not apply for pension rights, regardless of whether they win re-election. “Whether we return as MPs or not, we will definitely not file to claim pension benefits,” he said.
Mr Chris added that around 1,200 former members of parliament, including both ex-MPs and former senators, are currently receiving pensions out of roughly 3,000 eligible former lawmakers.
While acknowledging that some former legislators may genuinely need support, he said others do not and should not rely on taxpayer money for life.