Thai business leaders are citing France’s protests as a warning that cost pressures and uneven economic gains can deepen political grievances, with Thailand’s public debt at 67.94% of gross domestic product in August.
The French Interior Ministry counted 410,000 participants across 289 public actions on Oct. 24, including 110,000 in Paris. The previous week, it recorded 550,000 people across 441 actions. Its Oct. 24 tally listed 1,314 arrests and 53 injuries among security-force members, while the Oct. 17 update showed 2,628 arrests and 1,144 security-force members injured. The ministry said its latest tally was provisional. The General Confederation of Labour (CGT) estimated turnout at nearly 800,000, the Associated Press reported.
The Associated Press reported that the protests began over school staffing and funding grievances and broadened to include concerns about living costs and public services.
The Bangkok Post reported that Noppong Teeraveet, president of the Federation of Thai SMEs Association, urged policymakers to ensure smaller firms benefit more from economic growth and can obtain financing to expand. “Thailand must take heed of these lessons and act early to prevent similar problems from emerging,” he said. Political scientist Prof. Surachart Bamrungsuk told the paper that unresolved cost pressures could shift public frustration toward politicians.
Data from Thailand’s Public Debt Management Office put the public debt-to-GDP ratio at 67.94% on Aug. 31. Kriengkrai Thiennukun, honorary chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, told the Bangkok Post that public debt and fiscal imbalances could create wider economic problems.
The Thai government says eligible participants can use the Thais Help Thais Plus co-payment scheme through Nov. 30. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said unions had filed advance notice for a demonstration on Nov. 5.
