Bangkok: Pakornwut Udompipatsakul, a party-list MP for the Prachachon Party and chairman of the opposition coordination committee, expressed his disagreement with the Constitutional Court’s recent decision concerning honesty. He indicated uncertainty over whether the Pheu Thai Party would resubmit a petition to reinterpret the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), citing past experiences as his reason for not wanting to employ the same tactics that had previously been used against him.
According to Thai News Agency, the situation arose when Wisut Chainarun, a Pheu Thai Party MP, withdrew a petition filed by Pheu Thai Party MPs. The petition sought the Constitutional Court’s intervention to dismiss Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Natthaphong Ruangpanyawut, a Prachachon Party leader, from their MP status. The petition aimed to remove names and content related to the MOA, which had been used to exchange votes for the prime minister but was altered in the process. Pakornwut mentioned that he was informed of the Pheu Thai Party’s decision to withdraw and amend the petition but remained unsure if it would be resubmitted, suggesting that further clarification from the party was necessary.
Pakornwut emphasized that the Prachachon Party has consistently upheld the principle that petitioning the Constitutional Court on matters of honesty breaches ethical standards. He firmly disagreed with leaving such matters to the interpretation of the nine Constitutional Court judges, considering it ill-advised. He also acknowledged that Mr. Chaturon Chaisaeng, a Pheu Thai Party MP, shared his disagreement, indicating a need to wait and see how the situation unfolds.
Pakornwut pointed out that the Pheu Thai Party had previously aligned with the Prachachon Party and had been victimized in similar incidents. He expressed hope that the Pheu Thai Party would refrain from using the same tactics they had suffered from against others, emphasizing the desire for effective collaboration in parliament.