Thai Opposition to File No-Confidence Motion by Month's End
Thailand's opposition parties plan to file a no-confidence motion by month's end targeting Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Digital Economy Minister Chaichanok Chidchob over issues including alleged exam cheating and Senate election c
Bangkok — Thailand's opposition parties plan to submit a no-confidence motion against the government by the end of September, with Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaichanok Chidchob among the ministers already targeted for debate.
Parit Wacharasindhu, a People's Party list MP and chairman of the opposition whip, said at Parliament on Saturday that a working group had been formed to prepare the details of the motion and compile a list of ministers the opposition parties want to censure.
He said the opposition remained on its original timetable and would seek to complete and submit the motion within September. When asked whether the opposition was waiting for the Election Commission's ruling on the alleged Senate election collusion case, Parit said this was not the reason, as the result was already expected on 14 September.
Asked whether the opposition had specific issues in its sights, Parit said there were two or three groups of issues. The first involved matters already in the public domain, including alleged cheating in local government recruitment examinations, alleged collusion in the Senate election and the TH-AI Passport project.
The second group consists of issues the opposition has been investigating and collecting information about for some time but which have not yet been made public. The third concerns any new issues that may emerge between now and the no-confidence debate.
On individual ministers, Parit said opposition parties had been assigned to gather information after a meeting with coalition opposition parties. He confirmed that two names had already been agreed upon by the opposition: Anutin Charnvirakul, the prime minister and interior minister, and Chaichanok Chidchob, the digital economy and society minister. Other ministers could be added as the opposition continues to compile information from each party.
When asked whether the debate would involve a person or network linked to Buriram province, Parit said the substance of the allegations would have to be considered first. He said the formal no-confidence motion would have to focus on the prime minister and ministers. However, if evidence shows that a minister had failed to serve the public and instead served the interests of a particular individual, that issue should also be included in the debate regardless of where that person was based.
