Censure debate/no-confidence vote against Prayut delayed until early July

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

A CENSURE DEBATE AND NO-CONFIDENCE vote against Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is being delayed until early July now that the opposition bloc has postponed the lodging of a relevant motion until a couple of organic laws of the constitution have been enacted.

The Pheu Thai-led opposition bloc today (Apr. 26) resolved to put off the planned lodging of the censure debate which is to be closely followed by a no-confidence vote against Prayut and any other members of his cabinet until the organic laws pertaining to the election for MPs and political parties have sailed through their third or final reading at parliament, according to Pheu Thai secretary-general Prasert Chanthararuangthong.

Given the final readings of those organic laws expected in the second or third week of June, the censure/no-confidence motion will likely be lodged in the fourth week of June, according to chief opposition whip Suthin Khlangsaeng.

Given the postponement of the motion, the marathon censure/no-confidence vote will not take place until early July, Suthin said.

The censure/no-confidence motion has been postponed for the sake of the enactment of the organic laws deemed necessary for the future election for MPs, Prasert said.

The opposition bloc had earlier planned to submit the motion shortly after the House reconvenes on May 22.

The organic laws currently in the scrutiny process by an extraordinary House/Senate committee might possibly not be enacted if Prayut dissolved the House of Representatives and called a general election anytime between now and June, the Pheu Thai secretary-general commented.

A political deadlock situation would certainly prevail and thwart the next election only if the organic laws could not be enacted due to the possible House dissolution, Prasert said.

Nevertheless, the premier is not legally allowed to dissolve the House once the censure/no-confidence motion is formally filed.

CAPTIONS:

Top: The Thai Parliament. Photo: NNT

Home Page: Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. Photo: Thai Rath

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