A LAWYER who is facing a defamation lawsuit from some senators over criticism of their performance during the joint House/senate meeting last Thursday (July 13) where only 13 of them voted for Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat as prime minister said he is not afraid and is waiting for them to do so, TV Channel 7 said this afternoon (July 17).
Mr. Decha Kittiwittayanan posted a message saying, “Reporters told me that senators, who were not elected by the people, threatened to sue me. I am waiting for them to sue and will file a countersuit.
“Their salary comes from people’s taxes so people have the right to criticise them.”
He later said he has heard that these senators and their lawyers are now collecting evidence against people who criticised them and are going to file a lawsuit tomorrow.
He urged the public to remember that senators are unelected representatives of the people with taxpayers paying their salary as such they had the right to criticise them.
If the criticism is made in good faith, regardless of whether it was sarcastic or profanity used, it cannot be considered defamation, he said.
Decha mentioned that in 2019 all the senators raised their hands in support of Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha becoming the prime minister.
They had said that if a politician is able to get more than half of the 500 MPs to support him then they would vote for him too because they are politically neutral and would not insult or slander any political party.
Decha then asked whether these same senators had been neutral when it came to voting for Pita as prime minister.
A prime minister is legally required to get yea votes from more than half the combined total of MPs and senators or at least 375 votes. One senator resigned a day prior to last Thursday’s joint session, thus cutting the total of senators to 249.
The May 14 election has turned the Move Forward into the No.1 largest elected party with 151 MPs, followed by the Pheu Thai with 141 MPs. Both have formed a coalition of eight partners including six other relatively small-sized and splinter camps.
CAPTION:
Lawyer Decha Kittiwittayanan, left, and Move Forward leader/prime minister-designate Pita Limjaroenrat. Photo: Thai Rath
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