Lawmakers Demand Night Meals, Call for Neutral Parliament Leadership

On September 8, 2025, parliament members led by Pongsaranath Thongli, a Bangkok MP from the People's Party, announced plans to submit a motion for parliament to review ongoing management problems. The 27th parliament session has faced continuous issues since opening, with meeting controls now limiting members' debate rights in ways that differ sharply from previous sessions. "We have encountered numerous problems stemming from how the speaker and deputy speakers manage proceedings," the statement read. "We are submitting this motion so parliament can consider how leadership should operate more fairly."

MP Phandil Nuamjerm of Bangkok, People's Party, raised complaints about impartiality and operational concerns. He noted that the Parliament Speaker Sopon Saramee and deputy speakers, while coming from different parties, should conduct their duties with neutrality. He criticized delays in processing motions, uneven scheduling, and challenges with slide presentations that are censored or fail to display. "This violates members' freedom of expression," he said. "How can parliament be a safe space to voice public concerns if content is being censored?"

Phandil also highlighted the food crisis. "We debate until midnight with nothing to eat. Convenience stores close at 2 p.m. Many members have stomach conditions. I volunteered to pay 300-500 baht for night meals, but the vendors have all closed," he explained. He said the speaker mentioned allocating 2,000 baht daily to support food vendors, but that was insufficient. "We are not demanding luxury. We are genuinely struggling with nothing to eat from 3 to 4 a.m. We are willing to pay ourselves—we are not asking for free food. On behalf of all 499 members, I urge the speaker to review welfare standards and facilities oversight," Phandil concluded.