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BANGKOK, Nov 3 (Reuters) – Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s government has agreed to a December 7 to 11 schedule for its first censure debate in parliament, an official said on Tuesday.
The debate will last four days and a confidence vote will take place on December 11 under a timetable agreed by government and opposition whips, government spokesperson Ekkapob Pianpises said.
- Opposition parties have filed a motion targeting 18 ministers from the ruling Bhumjaithai Party, including Anutin. The opposition can file a no-confidence motion once per year
- The opposition’s allegations include fraud in the upper house election process, corruption in local government examinations and mismanagement of the economy and recent floods
- Anutin’s Bhumjaithai has rejected the allegations and said it is ready to face the proceedings in parliament
- Anutin is expected to prevail because of his house majority, though there may be a cabinet reshuffle down the line, said Wanwichit Boonprong, a political science lecturer at Rangsit University
- Anutin’s coalition, which came to power after Bhumjaithai’s big election win in February, currently has 292 seats in the 499-member house, compared to the opposition’s 207
- To bring down the premier or a minister, the support of more than half of house members is needed
- The Kla Tham Party, which has 58 lawmakers and is not in Anutin’s coalition, did not join the motion, weakening the opposition
Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing by Martin Petty
