Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanpraphasat revealed that the Fiscal Policy Office has modeled a royal decree authorizing the Finance Ministry to borrow up to 400 billion baht to address impacts from the energy crisis and facilitate the country's energy transition. All funds are projected to stimulate an additional 0.8% growth in Thai GDP, while inflation in 2027 is expected to remain at 1.5%. However, he emphasized that the primary objective is not economic stimulus but providing relief and alleviating burdens on citizens, SMEs, and business operators facing the current energy crisis.

The next steps include submitting the royal decree draft to the King for announcement in the Royal Gazette, then including it in the fiscal year 2569 borrowing plan for consideration by the Public Debt Management Committee before presenting to the Cabinet for review by May 12, 2569, with submission to Parliament on May 14 and Senate on May 18.

"The government must act immediately," Ekniti stated. "We've exhausted all budget options. The 2569 budget and budget transfers will yield less than 50 billion baht, while the central budget has only 20 billion baht remaining. The 2570 budget requires another five months. If we wait that long, people, farmers, and business operators will suffer severely, leading to reduced purchasing power, business closures, and unemployment. The government cannot allow this."

Ekniti confirmed that this borrowing will not require raising the public debt ceiling from its current 70% of GDP, as projections show Thailand's public debt will peak at 69% of GDP in fiscal year 2571 before gradually declining.

Ekniti expects the May 19 Cabinet meeting will approve the "Thailand Helps Thailand Plus" program, encompassing the "Half for All Plus" scheme and welfare card top-ups, funded through borrowing, central budget allocations, and budget transfers—all subject to a screening committee chaired by the Permanent Secretary of Finance.

He confirmed that citizens will definitively be able to access benefits under the Half for All Plus program on June 1 as the Prime Minister announced.

Finance Ministry Permanent Secretary Laweron Saengsonit expects government agencies to begin submitting funding requests under the royal decree next week, with Cabinet consideration possible from May 19 onwards. He confirmed that despite the 400 billion baht borrowing, the public debt ceiling will not exceed 70% of GDP during fiscal years 2570-2573.

The Pure Heart Foundation presented snacks to the Thai Social Welfare Council in support of a merit-making ceremony honoring the late Princess Galyani Vadhana. On May 5, 2025, Foundation President Theeraphant Nawamawat delivered 2,400 snacks valued at 33,600 baht, sponsored by Saranjitr Wang, board member of Bai Lee Enterprise Company Limited, to the Thai Social Welfare Council under Royal Patronage.

The donation was made to support the memorial event "In Remembrance of the Gracious Kindness of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana, Princess of Nakhon Sawan" scheduled for May 6, 2025 at the Nawamaharat Building, with Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Manas Nonuch, President of the Thai Social Welfare Council, receiving the donation.

The foundation president stated that the Pure Heart Foundation is deeply committed to supporting this commemorative event, which reflects the care and cooperation among different sectors. This reinforces the ongoing collaboration between the foundation and the Thai Social Welfare Council in conducting activities that benefit society and improve the quality of life for people in the long term.

Historically, the foundation and the Thai Social Welfare Council have jointly implemented various public benefit activities, including assistance for disadvantaged groups, social welfare support, and quality-of-life improvement initiatives across the country. These efforts demonstrate the power of civil society working together concretely, aiming to create opportunities, reduce inequality, and extend assistance widely to target groups.

The memorial event comprises two components: a merit-making ceremony honoring Princess Galyani Vadhana and a scholarship award ceremony for persons with disabilities and children of disabled persons.

At 5:35 PM on May 5, 2025, Chadchart Suwanrüjitr, list MP and deputy leader of the People's Party, presented his vision as the party's candidate for Bangkok Governor. He argued that while Bangkok is often portrayed as the most comfortable city for those with sufficient wealth, ordinary workers such as street food vendors, delivery riders, and office employees face a much harder reality. Chadchart emphasized that life in Bangkok is genuinely difficult due to transportation challenges, the costs of raising children and elderly parents, and increasing job losses in an era of AI technology displacement.

Chadchart spoke from personal experience, growing up in the old riverside neighborhoods of Bangkok and commuting long distances by multiple buses and boats for work. He challenged Bangkokians to question whether the capital should settle for its current state or whether it can offer better quality of life.

He highlighted the People's Party's commitment to addressing structural problems and outlined four policy packages to make life easier: (1) easier family support through assistance with childcare, (2) streamlined commerce, (3) job creation for the unemployed, (4) developing a walkable city with improved transportation. Chadchart emphasized that Bangkok is fundamentally about its people, not just infrastructure, and that the city should return time to residents currently wasted on daily commutes and administrative tasks. He stated that Bangkok should aspire to be a world-class capital that provides opportunities and support during difficult times, viewing citizens as the city's greatest resource rather than merely as administrative subjects.

The Democrat Party has approved all 50 Bangkok Metropolitan Assembly (BMA) candidates along with its Bangkok governor candidate. The party is preparing for Abhisit Vejjajiva, the party's list MP and leader, to announce the candidates in mid-May.

On May 5, 2569, reporters confirmed that the Democrat Party's executive committee approved the complete list of 50 BMA candidates across all Bangkok districts. The approved candidates include candidates from Dusit (Sriram Phumijai), Phra Nakhon (Natchathanya Saspyankorn), Bang Sue (Thanvat Satitolapreecha), and other districts throughout Bangkok, spanning all 50 electoral zones.

While the party's executive committee has already approved the Bangkok governor candidate, the identity cannot yet be disclosed. Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva will make the official announcement unveiling both the assembly candidates and the governor candidate in mid-May.

A severe storm pounded Wiang Sa District in Nan Province on May 5, 2569, devastating two communities with widespread destruction affecting more than 150 homes, downed power poles, uprooted trees, and a school pavilion blown 50 meters away. District officials led by Prasit Nota, Nan provincial representative for District 2, Thanasorn Pimsarn, Mae Sa subdistrict chief, and Chalerm Muanchai, village headman of Wang Yao, along with relevant agencies, conducted a damage assessment of the thunderstorm and powerful windstorm that struck Wiang Sa District the previous night. Preliminary inspection found over 150 affected homes, with Ban Oen Village 5 sustaining damage to 70 houses and Ban Wang Yao Village 7 suffering damage to 64 houses, with severe destruction where the wind stripped away roofs and walls from more than 50 homes, causing considerable distress to residents.

The village headman of Wang Yao stated that the storm was extremely violent, with exceptionally powerful winds that even lifted a wooden pavilion used by students at Mae Sa School and hurled it across a fence, landing on the road outside over 50 meters from its original location. Additionally, more than 10 power poles collapsed and large trees were snapped and blocked roadways, prompting the provincial electricity authority to cut power for safety reasons.

"Residents spent the entire night in darkness without telephone or internet signals to communicate with each other, and they remain concerned about further rainfall. This storm event is considered the most severe in 100 years, something no living resident has previously experienced," the headman said.

Provinicial representative Prasit stated he has urgently coordinated with relevant agencies including district administration, local government organizations, and disaster management units to provide immediate assistance to affected residents, including home repairs, temporary shelter arrangements, and government relief compensation.

Meanwhile, Chainrong Vongying, Nan Province Governor, has ordered the provincial disaster prevention and mitigation office and Wiang Sa District officials to expedite relief efforts for disaster victims. Relevant agencies continue surveying additional damage in hard-to-reach areas and have urged residents to closely monitor weather updates.

Government Savings Bank is promoting financial discipline by offering a 0.5% annual interest rate reduction for up to 8 months to responsible borrowers on home loans, with immediate eligibility confirmation through December 31, 2025. GSB Director Songpol Cheewapaññarot stated the bank aims to strengthen financial discipline among the public by encouraging borrowers to make responsible loan repayments according to contract terms, maintain good credit history, and avoid defaulting on loans that could negatively impact future borrowing and the broader economy. The "Good Home Payment GSB Discount" program targets home loan borrowers who have demonstrated consistent on-time payments over the past three years, with no missed payments in the last 12 months, and have not previously participated in other bank assistance programs. Eligible borrowers receive a 0.5% annual interest rate discount for up to 8 months without submitting new documents, and can verify their eligibility and enroll through the MyMo app from May 1 through December 31, 2025. Customers can contact GSB branches or the GSB Contact Center at 1115 for more information.