Bangkok: "Pichet" rushes to close the parliament meeting after a heated debate on the quorum count. "Pichet" scores a hat trick, rushing to close the parliament session after "People's MPs" propose counting the quorum while Pheu Thai MPs request counting by roll call.
According to Thai News Agency, the House of Representatives meeting, chaired by Mr. Pichet Chueamuangphan, First Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, was in session to acknowledge the auditor's report and the financial report for the year ending September 30, 2023. The meeting also included a report on the evaluation of spending and assets for fiscal year 2023 of the National Human Rights Commission. The session saw only one debater, Mr. Ekkarat Udom-Amnuay, Bangkok MP from the Prachachon Party. This led Mr. Chalermpong Saengdee, Phuket MP from the same party, to express concern over the sparse attendance and request a quorum count to verify the government's MPs' intentions.
Mr. Pichet responded by signaling members and urging them to continue the debate, asking government whips to gather MPs from other rooms. Meanwhile, Mr. Krumanit Sangphum, Surin MP from the Pheu Thai Party, argued that while requesting a quorum count is valid, conducting it by roll call would extend the session into the evening. He suggested postponing the count until next month to allow the completion of the 2016 budget meeting. Despite this, Mr. Pichet interrupted and instructed members to register their presence.
Mr. Ekarat objected, pointing out that Mr. Pichet had previously insisted on quorum counts. Subsequently, Mr. Watcharapol Khaokham, Udon Thani MP from the Pheu Thai Party, proposed a roll call quorum count to identify which MPs were present. The ensuing debate between opposition and government MPs led Mr. Chulaphan Amornwit, Chiang Mai MP from the Pheu Thai Party and Deputy Finance Minister, to clarify that meeting regulations allowed the chairman to decide the quorum check method, negating the need for a vote.
Mr. Pichet sought to avoid conflict by suggesting leniency, noting that a roll call would delay proceedings significantly. He urged the Budget Committee and subcommittees to engage with clarifying officials, eventually closing the meeting at 3:30 p.m.