Three Whips Deadlock on No-Confidence Debate Schedule
Thailand's three parliamentary whips failed to agree on a schedule for an upcoming no-confidence debate against individual ministers during a meeting at Parliament on October 21. The session ended without resolution after more than two hours, and all sides were ordered to prepare further for a follow-up meeting on October 22. The opposition has sought a five-day debate while the government proposes three days.
The coordination committee of the House of Representatives, chaired by First Deputy Speaker Mallika Chiraprawat, met at 3:15 p.m. on October 21 at Parliament to set the date and allocate time for a general debate leading to a no-confidence vote against individual ministers under Article 151 of the Constitution. Attendees included Minister Attached to the Prime Minister's Office Pharadon Prisananandakul representing the Cabinet; government chief whip Krawie Prisananandakul (Bhumjaithai Party, Ang Thong MP); opposition chief whip Prasit Watcharasin (Pheu Thai Party, party-list MP); and whips from other parties including Rangsiman Rome (party-list MP), Satit Wongnongtaey (party-list MP, Democrat Party), and Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn (Chachoengsao MP, Kla Tham Party). After more than two and a half hours, reporters were informed that no conclusion had been reached and a new meeting was scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on October 22, with each side instructed to do further preparation. However, later reports indicated the three whips would attempt to finalize an agreement later the same day. Previously, opposition parties had demanded a five-day debate while the government insisted on three days.
