By Thai Newsroom Reporters
THE PEOPLE’S, currently the largest opposition party, has informally advised that the Pheu Thai, the second largest, definitely postpone a censure motion against Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and his Bhumjaithai-led government until legislation on constitution amendment has supposedly passed its final reading at parliament next month.
People’s leader Nattapong Ruengpanyawut said today (Nov.24) he was informally suggesting Pheu Thai leader Julapun Amornvivat to think twice about the planned censure motion which could probably be filed as soon as the parliamentary session resumes on Dec.12 and to put it off in order to provide time for the legislative process for amendment to the coup junta-designed charter to be finished with its third or final reading supposedly within next month.
Nattapong was apparently responding to speculation that the prime minister would likely dissolve the House of Representatives to preempt censure debate which would be otherwise lodged against him or any members of his Bhumjaithai-led cabinet upon the reopening of the parliamentary session scheduled for Dec.12. The prime minister is legally prohibited from returning power to the people by way of a House dissolution after a censure motion has been formally filed at parliament.
The reformist People’s had endorsed the naming of Anutin for prime minister in exchange for his pushing for a complete process for legislation on constitution amendment which would importantly call for a public referendum to be conducted simultaneously alongside a general election so that the people could decide whether to approve in principle the constitution amendment effort and whether a constitution drafting committee should be set up for that matter.
Nattapong maintained that all People’s MPs would not pull punches during censure debate against the prime minister or any other members of cabinet and most certainly not cast confidence votes for them. He declined to say whether the People’s MPs may eventually cast no-confidence votes or abstain from voting.
He said the People’s will definitely by no means make comments on reported the Bhumjaithai’s quiet lobbyism and veiled influence to prompt current and former MPs, especially those attached to “Big House-occupied” constituencies, to defect from their current parties and seek re-election under the tickets of the now-ruling, ultra-conservative camp.
That refers to the “Big House” of Supanburi headed by Chart Thai Pattana leader/former social development & human security minister Varawut Silpa-archa, the “Big House” of Chonburi led by Sonthaya Khunpluem, the “Big House” of Nakhon Pathom led by Panuwat Sasomsap and the “Big House” of Rayong headed by provincial administrative head Piya Pitutecha.
Meanwhile, Anutin who concurrently acts as leader of the ultra-conservative Bhumjaithai, core of the current coalition government, has earlier said he would willingly bear the brunt of censure debate which could probably last three days in a row on the House floor only if the planned censure motion was not necessarily followed by confidence and no-confidence votes, given the current circumstances under which the Bhumjaithai-led government is a minority one whilst the opposition bloc is taking control of majority lawmakers.
Anutin has earlier remarked that he would by no means offer to be relentlessly grilled and consequently ousted from power with potential no-confidence votes.
The prime minister had earlier pledged to dissolve the House by the end of the upcoming January but changed his mind to do so sooner when the Pheu Thai apparently threatened to launch censure debate against him next month.
However, an extraordinary session is likely to open during Dec. 8 and Dec. 11 to provide for the second reading of the legislation on constitution amendment so that it would supposedly be finalised in its third reading after the bill has been put on hold for a 15-day period as required by law.
The neo-conservative Pheu Thai under de facto party boss/inmate Thaksin Shinawatra are allegedly looking to take “revenge” on the Bhumjaithai under de facto party boss Newin Chidchob since the latter had deliberately dumped the former onto the opposition bloc and secured conditional support from the People’s.
If Anutin was theoretically ousted with no-confidence votes following unrelenting censure debate, the Bhumjaithai-led government would automatically be deposed of power and potentially replaced by the Pheu Thai with Chaikasem Nitisiri, one of a trio of Pheu Thai partisan candidates for prime minister being given the opportunity to be named head of government in Anutin’s place and the possibility of his running the country until the end of the current parliamentary term in 2027.
In another development, the ruling Bhumjaithai and the opposition People’s have unveiled their partisan candidates for prime minister following the general election which might probably be held as soon as in an early part of the upcoming February if a House dissolution occurred early next month.
The Bhumjaithai trio of contestants for prime minister were declared by Anutin to be Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapat, Commerce Minister Supajee Suthumpun and himself whilst the People’s trio were formally proclaimed to be Sirikanya Tansakun, Veerayooth Kanchoochat and Nattapong.
Only the Pheu Thai has not yet come up with a trio of their candidates for prime minister, given sustained criticism that the previously-ruling, currently opposition party is wholly influenced and directed, albeit in surreptitious, hush-hush fashion, by Thaksin whilst Julapun is practically viewed as a nominal, powerless leader.
None of the former Pheu Thai leaders had been named partisan contestants for prime minister – the premium stake which has been mostly reserved for members of the Shinawatra family and wedlock relatives such as the likes of Thaksin’s brother-in-law Somchai Wongsawat, his fugitive sister Yingluck Shinawatra and his daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra, all having been former prime ministers, whilst Thaksin’s son-in-law Nattapong Kunakornwong was more or less speculated to be named one for the upcoming election.
Meanwhile, it remains to be seen whether former transport minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit, one of a duo leaders of Sam Mit Group, a faction inside the Pheu Thai, will stay put with Thaksin’s camp given the role of an electoral campaign director or eventually depart and seek re-election under the tickets of another party and whether he will be finally named one of a trio of Pheu Thai contestants for head of a post-election government.
Former public health minister Somsak Thepsuthin, the co-leader of Sam Mit Group, was anticipated to be persuaded by the Klatham, currently a coalition partner under de facto party boss/Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Agriculture & Cooperatives Minister Thammanat Prompao to skip over to his camp alongside several MPs under his command mostly representing upper-central constituencies.
Progressive Movement activist/former MP Pannika Wanich has recently expressed doubt that the Pheu Thai is literally prepared to contest the election since the Shinawatra family relinquished the partisan leadership and passed it from Paetongtarn to Julapun whilst it is up to anyone’s guess as to whether Suriya will be financially capable of sponsoring campaign finance for most contenders to run under the banners of Thaksin’s camp.
CAPTIONS:
People’s leader Nattapong Ruengpanyawut. Above photo -Thai Rath, Front Page – PPTVHD36
First insert – Pheu Thai leader Julapun Amornvivat. Photo Thai Rath
Second insert – Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, right, and People’s leader Nattapong Ruengpanyawut, left. Photo – Thai Rath
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