Bangkok: Wan Muhammad Noor Matha, President of the House of Representatives, declared that if the opposition does not amend the censure motion to remove Thaksin Shinawatra's name, it will not be included in the agenda. He emphasized adherence to regulations, warning that inclusion could lead to lawsuits, with the chairman and proposers of the motion at risk of becoming defendants. The opposition is expected to appeal the decision within the next week.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Wan Muhammad Noor Matha highlighted that the opposition's insistence on not amending the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, which includes the name of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, poses legal challenges. Thaksin, being an outsider, should not be named in the motion, and doing so could result in lawsuits. Mr. Wan Muhammad Noor has urged the opposition to amend the motion accordingly.
Mr. Wan Muhammad Noor stated, "If he wants to debate, he has to amend the motion. If he doesn't amend, we won't include it. I have to proceed according to the regulations."
In response to queries about the potential inclusion of the unamended motion, the House Speaker reiterated that doing so would contravene regulations, especially concerning maintaining order should a lawsuit arise. The regulations clearly prohibit the mention of outsiders, and including such mentions in a motion is even more severe as it cannot be withdrawn once approved.
Mr. Wan Muhammad Noor mentioned that he had discussed the issue with the opposition leader, requesting the motion be revised to comply with regulations. The opposition leader indicated a need for further consultation. The House Speaker is prepared to engage in further discussions if necessary, alongside the secretary-general of the House and the legal department, to ensure that any appeal from the opposition is addressed appropriately.
The Speaker emphasized the importance of an orderly meeting that adheres to regulations to avoid potential lawsuits. If the meeting proceeds with the inclusion of Thaksin's name and a lawsuit ensues, the Speaker and the motion's proposers could be liable.
Regarding the requested five-day debate period by the opposition, the House Speaker noted that discussions would involve the whips from the opposition, government, and Cabinet representatives. Mr. Pichet Chueamuangphan, the first deputy speaker, has been tasked with facilitating these discussions once the motion is amended and acknowledged by the Cabinet.
When questioned about the appropriateness of a no-confidence debate against a single prime minister, Mr. Wan Muhammad Noor maintained that the duration, potentially ranging from 1-5 days, would depend on discussions to determine what is suitable.