ID :
10242
Tue, 06/17/2008 - 19:10
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/10242
The shortlink copeid
Censure of Thai cabinet ministers could be debated late June
BANGKOK, June 17 (TNA) - Stressing that he is acting with neutrality, House Speaker Chai Chidchob said Tuesday he is awaiting receipt of the request for a censure motion against the coalition government to be submitted by the opposition Democrat Party.
Mr. Chai said attacks by members of the Democrat Party that he is siding with the government are not true. He emphasised that it would take "not more than three days" for House officials to verify the requests for censure motions after the petition is lodged by the chief opposition whip.
The motion will then be forwarded to the government after which it can be put on the agenda of the parliament's current extraordinary session.
Whether the no-confidence debate against the coalition government can be held during the ongoing extraordinary session depends on an "agreement between government and the opposition whips," said Mr. Chai.
The government's budget bill for fiscal 2009, which begins October 1, is of utmost importance, Mr. Chai said, and the government has already sent documents related to the draft budget bill to the House.
If approved, the censure debate must be held after the budget bill passes parliamentary scrutiny, he said.
Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and six cabinet ministers will be
questioned by the opposition.
According to sources at the Democrat Party, the ministers are Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee, Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Mingkwan Saengsuwan, Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama, Justice Minister Sompong Amornwiwat, Deputy Transport Minister Songsak Thongsri, and Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung.
The charges leveled against Mr. Samak and his ministers include their roles in the government's failure to solve Thailand's economic problems and endemic corruption.
The move to launch the censure motion by the Democrat Party came after Mr. Samak had earlier denied the party a general debate. The prime minister cited time constraints as the reason for rejecting the general debate.
So far, a royal command for the closing date of the extraordinary session of the House has yet been issued, Mr. Chai said.
In another development, Sathit Wongnongtoey, chairman of the opposition whips, said the Democrat Party would at the latest submit the motion to the House early Wednesday.
The government cannot cite time constraints this time because a royal command has not yet been issued regarding the closing date of the extraordinary session, said Mr. Sathit.
Under the law, the House Speaker must act upon the requested agenda within seven days of receiving the motion, Mr. Sathit said.
Mr. Chai said attacks by members of the Democrat Party that he is siding with the government are not true. He emphasised that it would take "not more than three days" for House officials to verify the requests for censure motions after the petition is lodged by the chief opposition whip.
The motion will then be forwarded to the government after which it can be put on the agenda of the parliament's current extraordinary session.
Whether the no-confidence debate against the coalition government can be held during the ongoing extraordinary session depends on an "agreement between government and the opposition whips," said Mr. Chai.
The government's budget bill for fiscal 2009, which begins October 1, is of utmost importance, Mr. Chai said, and the government has already sent documents related to the draft budget bill to the House.
If approved, the censure debate must be held after the budget bill passes parliamentary scrutiny, he said.
Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and six cabinet ministers will be
questioned by the opposition.
According to sources at the Democrat Party, the ministers are Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee, Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Mingkwan Saengsuwan, Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama, Justice Minister Sompong Amornwiwat, Deputy Transport Minister Songsak Thongsri, and Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung.
The charges leveled against Mr. Samak and his ministers include their roles in the government's failure to solve Thailand's economic problems and endemic corruption.
The move to launch the censure motion by the Democrat Party came after Mr. Samak had earlier denied the party a general debate. The prime minister cited time constraints as the reason for rejecting the general debate.
So far, a royal command for the closing date of the extraordinary session of the House has yet been issued, Mr. Chai said.
In another development, Sathit Wongnongtoey, chairman of the opposition whips, said the Democrat Party would at the latest submit the motion to the House early Wednesday.
The government cannot cite time constraints this time because a royal command has not yet been issued regarding the closing date of the extraordinary session, said Mr. Sathit.
Under the law, the House Speaker must act upon the requested agenda within seven days of receiving the motion, Mr. Sathit said.
