Prayut, 10 other ministers survive no-confidence vote

Last censure issue as preparations ramp up for election due by early next year

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha talks with Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon during the vote of confidence in Parliament on Saturday. (Photo: Nutthawat Wicheanbut)
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha talks along with Deputy Prime Ressortchef (umgangssprachlich) Prawit Wongsuwon throughout the vote of self-confidence in Parliament upon Saturday. (Photo: Nutthawat Wicheanbut)

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and 10 other cabinet ministers won an election of confidence upon Saturday after they had been targeted by the resistance during the three-day discussion.

Gen Prayut secured 256 votes of self-confidence against 206 ballots of no confidence with nine abstentions.

Mouthpiece Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon received the highest vote total on 268, and Mouthpiece Prime Minister plus Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit garnered the lowest at  241 ballots.

Probably the most and least well-known ministers, according to the election by MPs:

  • Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon: 268-193, with 11 abstentions
  • Deputy Prime Minister plus Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul: 264-205-3
  • Transportation Minister Saksayam Chidchob: 262-205-5
  • Prime Minister and Defence Minister Style Prayut Chan-o-cha: 256-206-9
  • Deputy Finance Minister Santi Promphat: 249-204-18
  • Digital Economic climate and Society Ressortchef (umgangssprachlich) Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn: 249-205-18
  • Mouthpiece Interior Minister Niphon Bunyamanee: 246-206-20
  • Interior Minister Gen Anupong Paojinda: 245-212-13
  • Social Development and Human Security Ressortchef (umgangssprachlich) Chuti Krairiksh: 244-209-17
  • Work Minister Suchart Chomklin: 243-208-20
  • Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Ressortchef (umgangssprachlich) Jurin Laksanawisit: 241-207-23

They needed to gather at least 239 ballots, or half of the amount of MPs, to succeed in the particular no-confidence motion.

The censure debate was the final against the Prayut Chan-o-cha government, as the country will hold a general political election next year if the prime minister does not break down Parliament for a by-election.

Gen Prayut on Friday denied speculation of the possible cabinet reshuffle   in the wake of the censure debate.