Bangkok: "Teng" has openly criticized the "Prime Minister," claiming that the prime minister is not a genuine leader and lacks the power to control the government effectively. The leader of the opposition in the House of Representatives, Mr. Nattapong Ruangpanyawut, has announced plans to submit a censure motion against several government ministers on February 27th. He suggests that the rift within the government is driven by "interests - political games," and advises the public to wait for the motion's outcome to determine if prominent political figures Thaksin and Newin can resolve these issues.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Nattapong, leader of the Prachachon Party, emphasized that the censure motion itself faces no obstacles and is expected to be ready for submission on the designated date. He has urged the public to await both the motion and the list of ministers targeted, which will be revealed on Thursday. Mr. Nattapong assured that the debate would be more intense than ever once the list is made public.
Information from various sources, including routine bureaucratic channels and political insiders, has been flowing in, revealing numerous issues such as lack of qualifications, corruption, and other societal problems affecting the ministers. When questioned about potential land disputes involving coalition parties, Mr. Nattapong responded with laughter, implying that such issues are well-known.
Mr. Nattapong mentioned that he has selected multiple debaters for the upcoming motion. Although he refrained from revealing specific details, he confirmed that there are at least ten individuals from the Prachachon Party keen to participate. He stressed the importance of safeguarding the debaters' identities.
In response to inquiries about potential lobbying and vote-buying once the list of ministers is released, Mr. Nattapong stated that the People's Party aims to focus the debate on issues directly related to the ministers. He noted that the submission of a no-confidence motion typically causes tensions within coalition parties, but emphasized that the People's Party is not involved in these internal political games.
Government representatives have argued that it is premature to debate a no-confidence motion. However, Mr. Nattapong countered this by suggesting that any delay might indicate that the prime minister or ministers are unprepared to fulfill their duties. Given that several months have elapsed since the Pheu Thai Party assumed power, he expected the prime minister to personally address the parliament rather than delegating the task to other ministers.
Mr. Nattapong expressed concerns about the prime minister's performance, citing a lack of decisive action and clarity. He criticized the frequent back-and-forth exchanges within coalition parties, expressing a desire for a prime minister who actively uses power to address public issues.
Addressing questions about apparent divisions within the government, Mr. Nattapong acknowledged that the prime minister holds the authority to dissolve parliament but suggested that real decision-making power lies elsewhere. He attributed these divisions to negotiations over benefits and political maneuvering within the coalition parties.
When asked about Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra's role as the real prime minister, Mr. Nattapong insinuated that the current power dynamics are evident to the public. He remarked that the censure debate would serve as a platform for the prime minister to demonstrate leadership by personally addressing the parliament.
Regarding potential outcomes of the no-confidence debate, Mr. Nattapong indicated that cabinet reshuffles and negotiations within coalition parties were likely. He underscored the importance of the vote's outcome rather than focusing on political meetings between figures like Newin Chidchob and Thaksin Shinawatra.
Lastly, Mr. Nattapong mentioned ongoing discussions between opposition and government whips regarding the debate's duration. While the opposition has requested at least five days for the debate, they anticipate securing four days, despite the government's initial offer of only two.