House speaker urges unity from coalition
If Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat fails in his bid to win the prime minister’s post during the first round of voting, he can expect one or two more chances before another deal must be struck, according to newly elected House speaker, Wan Muhamad Noor Matha.
The crucial first vote is expected within 15 days, Mr Wan said.
Asked to comment on what was likely to happen if that vote doesn’t go in Mr Pita’s favour, Mr Wan said: “We will have to consider how many votes he still lacks, and voting should be repeated one or two more times.”
“This is intended to be in line with a memorandum of understanding agreed upon by the eight prospective coalition parties, which all want to ensure Mr Pita gets the backing of a majority [of both MPs and senators],” he added.
“But if support still falls short [after three rounds], we would have to reach an understanding. The House speaker cannot afford to persist [in calling further rounds of voting] because members of parliament may not want to attend, and a lack of quorum would ensue.
“Most importantly, the eight parties must sincerely show that they have tried to the best of their ability [to support Mr Pita’s bid] so we can move on and work together,” Mr Wan noted.
A joint sitting of the House of Representatives and the Senate is expected to convene on July 13 to select a new prime minister, according to sources.
Under the constitution, a candidate would need the support of at least half of the 750 members of both the lower and upper chambers of parliament, or 376 in total, to win the post.
Asked to comment on what would happen if any party tables a bill to amend Section 112 of the Criminal Code, or the lese majeste law, to parliament, Mr Wan said any proposed legislative bill must not contradict the constitution.
“The constitution stipulates what can and cannot be done,” he said.
Amending Section 112 is one of the MFP’s election pledges, but it was not included in the MoU signed by the eight prospective coalition parties.
Mr Wan was elected uncontested as House speaker yesterday as he was the only nominee.
Mr Pita nominated him when the House began its first session. There were 496 representatives present — just four short of full attendance.
Mr Wan, 79, addressed the meeting, outlining his vision for the job as required by parliamentary regulations.
He said he would be politically neutral and follow the advice His Majesty the King gave when the monarch presided over the formal opening of parliament on Monday.
Mr Wan said he would do his job honestly and comply with all laws and parliamentary regulations.
Interim House speaker, Virote Pao-in, cancelled a planned clandestine vote for House speaker and officially announced Mr Wan as the occupier of the coveted position.
The two main coalition allies, the MFP and Pheu Thai, agreed on Monday to nominate Mr Wan for the job after weeks of insisting they each wanted one of their respective members to assume the title, resulting in a stalemate.
MFP MP for Phitsanulok, Padipat Suntiphada, was then elected first deputy House speaker and Pheu Thai MP, Pichet Chuamuangphan, the second speaker.
There was one other contender for first deputy speaker — Witthaya Kaewparadai, a list-MP of the United Thai Nation Party. In the secret ballot, Mr Padipat received 312 votes and Mr Witthaya 105 votes.
Mr Pita said the 312 votes Mr Padipat received demonstrated the unity and solidarity of the eight prospective coalition parties, adding this bodes well for his bid to become prime minister.