Bangkok:The opposition leader has expressed concerns regarding the Prime Minister's preparedness for the upcoming no-confidence motion, suggesting that the Prime Minister is the least prepared and is seeking to delay the motion until December.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Nattapong Ruangpanyawut, a list MP and leader of the People's Party, stated that the Prime Minister, who has no prior parliamentary experience, appears unprepared for the no-confidence debate. The opposition believes the five-day, 60-hour debate timeframe is sufficient, but acknowledges the government's tight schedule, suggesting a potential reduction to four days, including a weekend. However, the government claims November is unavailable, with the Prime Minister indicating he cannot attend until December.
Mr. Nattapong emphasized that delaying the debate only harms society by preventing the executive branch from being accountable. He stressed the importance of holding the debate sooner rather than later and indicated that the opposition is ready to proceed with the debate as soon as the opportunity arises.
Additional concerns were raised regarding the Prime Minister's attendance at the ASEAN and APEC summits, with suggestions to delegate responsibilities to the Deputy Prime Minister. Mr. Nattapong noted that the Prime Minister should manage his schedule to participate in the no-confidence debate, stressing that it should not be used as an excuse for non-attendance.
In a separate matter, Mr. Nattapong addressed the public solar power project, highlighting concerns over potential favoritism towards large corporations and advocating for the promotion of salt-based batteries as a future industry. He emphasized the need for clear government policy to support the energy structure transition and ensure fairness and transparency in the project's implementation.
Mr. Nattapong also received a petition from civil society groups opposing amendments to four laws and cuts to sin taxes, fearing negative impacts on welfare and parliamentary independence. He plans to propose the establishment of a special parliamentary committee to consider the matter.
In conclusion, Mr. Nattapong stressed the importance of transparency and continuity in budget allocation for public health promotion and called for a special committee to thoroughly study the issues in managing each fund. He expressed concern over potential political maneuvers by the government, suggesting that the current actions may aim to undermine political opponents.