BANGKOK, Oct 25 – House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont said a censure debate lodged against the Yingluck Shinawatra administration is expected on the second week of November if the Opposition files a motion by the end of this month.
The House Speaker made his remarks after the opposition Democrat Party plans to submit the censure motion against the Pheu Thai-led government on October 31.
Mr Somsak said it takes 3-5 days to verify the details of the motion and it will be put on the House agenda on the second week of next month at the earliest or can be delayed until the third week at the latest.
Meanwhile, the Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said the latest cabinet reshuffle in which Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom is expected to be removed from the list will not affect the opposition’s censure debate on the transparency of the government’s rice pledging scheme and alleged excessive stocks of rice from the scheme.
Mr Abhisit reasoned that the heavily-criticised rice pledging scheme is the government’s policy and under the responsibility of the prime minister and her entire cabinet.
Prime Minister Yingluck today reaffirmed that the reshuffled cabinet list was submitted to HM the King for royal endorsement. She denied the cabinet shake-up is to avoid censure debate.
The Democrat party leader said the Opposition hopes the government will utilise useful information which will be discussed during the upcoming censure debate, while the public will be informed of the truth.
Following concern that the premier may not attend the censure debate, Mr Abhisit said he has been informed by the government whip that Ms Yingluck will be able to manage her schedule to join the debate.
