BANGKOK, Nov 19 – Thailand’s opposition Democrat Party stood firm today that it would not supply additional documents to back up its proposed no-confidence debate as required by the speaker of Parliament.
Democrat spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut said the party has strictly adhered to the Constitution in its bid to censure Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan.
He said the party had followed a similar no-confidence procedure as it did twice in the past.
Parliament Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont, however, insisted that the Democrat Party is required to enclose an impeachment document with the no-confidence motion, otherwise the censure move is incomplete.
He set 4.30 pm Thursday as the deadline for Democrat MPs to hand over the extra information and the next parliamentary move should be announced the following day.
“If not, the no-confidence debate may not be held in this parliamentary session. The present political situation will be taken into consideration on whether the censure motion will be put in the parliamentary agenda,” said Mr Somsak.
He denied that he was applying a technical trick to avoid having to put the no-confidence motion in the agenda, or to pave the way for the prime minister to announce a House dissolution
The Democrat spokesman said a letter reiterating the party’s resolution (not to supply extra information) will be signed by party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva and submitted to the Parliament speaker
“If Mr Somsak refuses to put the censure motion in the agenda, the Democrat Party will take legal action against him,” said Mr Chavanond.
He claimed that the government will immediately dissolve the Lower House after the bill to borrow Bt2 trillion is passed by the Senate.
