By Thai Newsroom Reporters
PRIME MINISTER PRAYUT Chan-o-cha today (Dec. 24) shrugged off the persistent lack of a quorum in the House of Representatives, bluntly saying it was no cause for concern to him.
Prayut commented that a House quorum, either adequate or lacking, specifically during the deliberation of significant items of agenda was entirely the responsibility of the legislators and concluded the lack of it had nothing to do with him.
According to the premier, the executive branch invariably preferred the legislative branch carry out their job with the slated House agenda, specifically those involving “good government projects.”
Prayut’s comments apparently dampened speculation that he might possibly dissolve the House sooner or later due to the repeated lack of a House quorum as many MPs of Palang Pracharath Party, the largest coalition partner in government, often skipped House meetings.
Deputy Pheu Thai Party leader Yutthapong Charatsathian earlier blamed Prayut for such a recurring phenomenon since, he said, the premier himself usually skipped House meetings only to see those government legislators and members of his cabinet follow suit.
Government whips have appeared under pressure to see to it that as many MPs of the coalition partners as possible attend House meetings to make an adequate quorum, particularly during the deliberation of major legislations or decrees proposed by their government.
A House quorum practically counts on a simple majority of the total of MPs, currently consisting of 266 government MPs and 208 opposition MPs. The lack of a House quorum has finally prompted the House speakers to adjourn the House meetings and called it a day.
CAPTIONS:
Top: The Thai Parliament meeting chamber. Photo: Matichon
Home Page: Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. Photo: Siam Rath
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