ID :
164683
Mon, 02/28/2011 - 11:33
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/164683
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Thai PM ready for censure debate
BANGKOK, Feb 28 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva announced on Monday (Feb 28) that he and his Cabinet are now ready for a censure debate expected to kick off late this week.
In response to the opposition’s plan to file a censure motion against his government on Tuesday and demand for 4-5 days for the censure debate, Abhisit noted that an arrangement for the upcoming no-confidence debate against his administration should be based on facts, including the number of MPs to join the debate, the number of the Cabinet members to be grilled and the duration of past censure debates as a reference, and that he has not yet seen the censure motion but he considers the debate can start soon, most likely late this week, as all ministers are now ready for the debate. The Thai premier said, however, that the schedule of the censure debate will be discussed between Thailand's House Speaker Chai Chidchob and the government and the opposition.
Asked if it is time for the next general election as his trip to the Chatuchak market on Sunday still faced an anti-government mob, Abhisit revealed that he had ordered an investigation on the incident. If the protest was aimed only at obstructing his vote campaign, he would have no problems, but if any political party masterminded the mob, he would ask the Election Commission of Thailand (EC) to look into the issue because that was tantamount to disobedience to the principles of democracy.
Meanwhile, EC Chairman Apichart Sukhagganond said that he has told Thai election commissioners to be prepared for the next general election, as the Thai premier has already announced a plan to dissolve the Thai House by April, and that in the next general election, the number of Thailand's constituencies will increase from 157 to 375 and the election agency will try to minimize the number of invalid ballots.
The EC chair also acknowledged that he disagrees with advanced polls because they are considered wasting of budget and leading to the problem of some political parties transporting voters to poll booths and thinks the advanced polls should be limited to only one day. (TNA)
In response to the opposition’s plan to file a censure motion against his government on Tuesday and demand for 4-5 days for the censure debate, Abhisit noted that an arrangement for the upcoming no-confidence debate against his administration should be based on facts, including the number of MPs to join the debate, the number of the Cabinet members to be grilled and the duration of past censure debates as a reference, and that he has not yet seen the censure motion but he considers the debate can start soon, most likely late this week, as all ministers are now ready for the debate. The Thai premier said, however, that the schedule of the censure debate will be discussed between Thailand's House Speaker Chai Chidchob and the government and the opposition.
Asked if it is time for the next general election as his trip to the Chatuchak market on Sunday still faced an anti-government mob, Abhisit revealed that he had ordered an investigation on the incident. If the protest was aimed only at obstructing his vote campaign, he would have no problems, but if any political party masterminded the mob, he would ask the Election Commission of Thailand (EC) to look into the issue because that was tantamount to disobedience to the principles of democracy.
Meanwhile, EC Chairman Apichart Sukhagganond said that he has told Thai election commissioners to be prepared for the next general election, as the Thai premier has already announced a plan to dissolve the Thai House by April, and that in the next general election, the number of Thailand's constituencies will increase from 157 to 375 and the election agency will try to minimize the number of invalid ballots.
The EC chair also acknowledged that he disagrees with advanced polls because they are considered wasting of budget and leading to the problem of some political parties transporting voters to poll booths and thinks the advanced polls should be limited to only one day. (TNA)
