Oppositon cites lack of policy progress
PUBLISHED : 7 Mar 2024 at 04:00
The opposition is seeking a general debate — instead of a censure debate — against the government over its alleged lack of progress in implementing core policies declared in parliament when it took office half a year ago.
The decision was reached yesterday at a meeting of the six opposition parties, namely Move Forward Party (MFP), Democrat Party, Thai Sang Thai Party (TSTP), Fair Party, Thai Teachers for People Party and New Party.
Unlike the no-confidence debate which is allowed under Section 151 of the constitution, the general debate under Section 152 does not require a censure vote to be cast on targeted cabinet ministers.
On March 13, the opposition is expected to file a motion calling for the debate, likely to last two days. It may take place between April 3 and 5, said opposition leader Chaithawat Tulathon who also leads the MFP.
He said April 3-5 marks an ideal timeframe for a debate because the second and third readings of the 2024 fiscal budget bill are expected from March 27-28 while the current parliamentary session is due to end on April 9, he said.
At this point, the opposition parties are narrowing down the debate topics and the work will be finalised later, he said.
“In short, this government has been in office for almost half a year, but it has yet to seriously begin honouring the promises it made to voters.
“It keeps ignoring the responsibility of implementing policies the coalition had declared in parliament,” Mr Chaithawat said.
Chaichana Detdacho, a Democrat MP for Nakhon Si Thammarat and deputy party leader, said the party is focusing on the government’s justice affairs which would include controversies surrounding the Ministry of Justice’s handling of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s hospital detention and subsequent issuing of the former premier’s parole.
The government made no real progress regarding policies it has pledged to deliver since assuming office, said Kritdithat Saengthanayothin, list-MP and leader of the New Party.
In the coming debate, he would zero in on the government’s inability to tackle the loan shark problem which the government has vowed to stamp out under its public debt alleviation policy, said the opposition MP.
Even though the government’s main problem is a lack of progress in policy implementation, which might not warrant solid evidence to prove as would a debate on suspected corruption, the opposition’s general debate would still present real evidence, said Mr Chaithawat.