Novel group of multi-partisan MPs set up

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

A NOVEL GROUP OF MULTI-PARTISAN MPs has been formed with primary intent to perform as independent lawmakers who may have earlier been aligned to the coalition government but may from now cast their votes against government legislations.

Thai Civilized MP Mongkolkit Suksintharanond confirmed today (Feb.10) that the group, tentatively called Group 16, consists of multi-partisan MPs who will no longer compromise the interests of the people only to endorse the Palang Pracharath-led coalition government. 

Group 16 consists of 10 MPs of varied splinter parties earlier viewed as part of the coalition, plus four New Economics MPs and two Move Forward MPs with Palang Pracharath MP Pichet Sathirachawal having been named head of the novel group.

Those splinter camps which have joined Group 16 include Pheu Chart Thai Party, Thai Rak Tham Party, Local Thai Force Party, New Democracy Party, New Palang Dharma Party, Chart Pattana Party, Thai Forest Conservation Party and Thai Civilized Party.

Mongkolkit remarked that Group 16 is by no means attached to a brand-new faction of Thai Economics MPs headed by ex-Palang Pracharath secretary-general Thammanat Prompow though both could collaborate with each other and jointly vote against any government bills which they may deem as far from serving the people’s interests.

In another development, today’s House meeting was adjourned again due to lack of a quorum. House Speaker Chuan Leekpai called it a day with only 227 MPs attending whereas no less than half the total of MPs, accounting for 237, was needed to make a quorum.

Many coalition MPs, specifically those of Palang Pracharath Party, have either skipped the House meetings or chosen to not verify their presence in the House chamber over the last several weeks, thus rendering a repeated lack of a quorum.

Bhumjaithai MP Chada Thaiset remarked that a legislator has the constitutional privilege to call for the counting of a House quorum and that it was fair play between both sides of the House chamber’s aisle which could be literally viewed by the people nationwide via the broadcasting media.

Pheu Thai MP Chulapan Amornvivat maintained that it is basically the duty of all coalition MPs, not those on the opposition bloc, to make a House quorum and warrant the stability of the government in the first place, given their numerical majority at parliament.

CAPTIONS:

Top: Thai Civilized MP Mongkolkit Suksintharanond. Photo: Naewna

Home Page: The Thai Parliament meeting chamber. Photo: Matichon

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