PATTAYA, Thailand – Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra addressed claims that her party, Pheu Thai, had lobbied Speaker of the House, Wan Muhammad Nor Matha, to remove the name of her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, from the no-confidence debate. She firmly denied any lobbying, stating that the decision was in accordance with parliamentary rules, and not a result of external influence.
“I believe the process must follow the rules and the system set by the parliament. If there were no regulations, anyone could add anyone’s name to the debate, which would create disorder,” she clarified.
When asked about her personal stance on including third-party names in the no-confidence motion, Prime Minister expressed that she believed it was inappropriate to include individuals who cannot defend themselves. “If someone is mentioned, they should have the right to respond,” she added.
The Prime Minister also stated that she was fully prepared to address all concerns raised by the opposition in the upcoming debate. She emphasized that her office was gathering information to ensure she could respond thoroughly to any questions. However, she remained uncertain about the exact number of days the debate would last and whether a 3-day debate would be suitable.
“I don’t know yet. Our party will likely make a proposal about the number of days,” she said.
