Anutin Says October No-Confidence Debate Fine Five Days Too Long
Anutin Charnvirakul said he is comfortable with a no-confidence debate set for late October but believes five days is excessive. He expressed confidence that the Pheu Thai Party will not abandon the Bhumjaithai ministers targeted by the opposition, and that the government will remain united. He noted that his schedule in mid‑November for ASEAN and APEC summits will not clash with the debate.
Anutin said he is comfortable with a no-confidence debate taking place in late October, pointing out that his unavoidable commitments are in mid‑November, from the 14th to the 19th, when he must attend the ASEAN leaders’ summit and the APEC meeting. He added that the most suitable timing would be whatever the parliamentary speaker coordinates, once the government confirms it is ready. He expressed confidence that the 18 ministers named in the motion have already prepared their data, citing Defence Minister General Atthayut Boonthamjeerern as an example. Regarding the opposition’s request for five days of debate, Anutin said he believes that is excessive and noted that this is not the largest number of ministers ever questioned in a no‑confidence motion; in the past the entire cabinet has been faced with such a debate. He observed that it is normal for Bhumjaithai to be the focus since the party holds 27 of the 35 ministerial positions in the two‑party coalition. When asked whether the opposition’s single‑party motion aims to cause a split in the government, Anutin replied that if such a minor issue could break the coalition, there would be no government at all, and he welcomed the fact that Pheu Thai is not being targeted, allowing it to continue its work uninterrupted. He said that if the debate touches on specific ministries, he will assign the relevant minister to respond: labour issues to Minister Chulaporn Amarawivat, technology and higher education matters to Deputy Prime Minister Yotsakorn Wongsa-wat, and agricultural topics to Minister Suriya Juangruangkit. Asked how vigorous the debate might be, Anutin affirmed his confidence that Pheu Thai will not abandon Bhumjaithai. He declined to comment on a remark by Sathit Wongnongeut of the Democrat Party alleging an “N.” regime monopolizing the country, merely asking who had said it, smiling when told, and then leaving the press area.
