Bangkok: Somsak Thepsuthin, Thailand's Public Health Minister, has criticized Nattapong Ruangpanyawut, the opposition leader and party-list MP for the Prachachon Party, for allegedly being unprofessional and engaging in political games. Somsak expressed his concerns after observing Nattapong's actions during a recent interaction with the Prime Minister.
According to Thai News Agency, the incident involved Nattapong attempting to take a photo with the Prime Minister and requesting further explanations during the session, as he felt the Prime Minister had not provided a comprehensive response. Somsak emphasized that this behavior is indicative of a broader pattern from the opposition, which has been involved in similar tactics since the onset of the debate. He noted that during the censure debate, the opposition did not fully utilize the time they requested, which he interpreted as part of their strategy to undermine the credibility of the Prime Minister.
Somsak, who has decades of parliamentary experience, remarked on the unorthodox nature of these tactics, stating that in his 40-year career, he has never witnessed such behavior. He asserted that the opposition's attempts to challenge the Prime Minister were thwarted by the thorough responses provided by the ministers, which neutralized their efforts. He questioned the professionalism of such strategies, highlighting that the censure debate is meant to address accusations of wrongdoing rather than serve as a platform for unrelated questioning.
Regarding the issue of alleged vote-buying involving so-called "cobra" MPs, Somsak dismissed the notion as unnecessary. He pointed out that the government already has over 300 votes of confidence in the Prime Minister, making such tactics redundant. He suggested that the opposition should focus on the mathematics of the situation, rather than resorting to political gamesmanship.
Somsak also touched upon rumors of negotiating for additional seats through the purchase of cobra MPs, indicating that it remains to be seen if this is another strategic game by the opposition. He advised observers to wait and see if such actions are demonstrated in the political arena.