At 9:00 AM on May 29, 2025, Parliament resumed the second day of its special session to debate the 3.78-trillion-baht 2026 budget bill, chaired by First Deputy House Speaker Pichet Chuamuangphan. MP Parit Wacharasindhu of the People’s Party exercised his right to respond to remarks made by Pichet during the first day's debate.

Parit clarified four key points:

  1. He denied any intent to stir controversy or attack Parliament, stating his budget scrutiny was part of his role on the Political Development Committee. He emphasized the goal was to review budget allocations related to strengthening democracy, including those of the Election Commission and the Anti-Corruption Commission—not just Parliament.
  2. Parit pointed out that although the budget has not officially passed, parts of it—such as 105 million baht for parking design—have already seen contractor selection processes, contradicting Pichet’s claim that there has been no spending.
  3. He argued that even proposing unnecessary projects, like a 133-million-baht backdrop for the Parliament’s throne, is a form of budgetary misconduct, regardless of procedural transparency.
  4. Responding to Pichet's jab that Parit should scrutinize other ministries too, Parit affirmed he already does and holds all agencies to the same standard. However, given his position, it’s vital to first ensure Parliament’s own budget is beyond reproach.

Pichet countered emotionally, defending the current and past Speakers' efforts in building and maintaining Parliament. He explained the challenges of budget reductions and emphasized the symbolic importance of Parliament’s physical presence and aesthetics. He criticized Parit’s live-streaming of committee meetings, saying it unfairly targeted junior civil servants and deviated from parliamentary norms.

Parit responded by affirming his compliance with internal guidelines, stating all live-streams were approved and unedited. He denied that clips were manipulated on social media and insisted that senior officials were invited for clarification after lower-level staff couldn't answer key questions. He reiterated that issues like oversized assembly halls aren’t a sign of legislative excellence, quoting research that links grandeur with lower democratic scores.

As the debate grew more heated, Pichet invited Parit to tour the Parliament with him to understand the renovation needs. He showcased a video of the deteriorating Sala Kaew structure, explaining the need for improvements before the inauguration of a monument to King Rama VII. He insisted renovations are essential, not excessive.

Parit concluded by announcing his intent to join the budget scrutiny committee, pledging to scrutinize expenses like the 120-million-baht meeting room renovations.