Key facts
- Government and opposition whips agreed the debate would run four days, with a confidence vote on December 11, spokesperson Ekkapob Pianpises said.
- Opposition parties filed a motion targeting 18 ministers from the ruling Bhumjaithai Party, including Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
- Anutin's coalition holds 292 of 499 house seats against the opposition's 207, and more than half must back a removal motion.
- The Kla Tham Party, with 58 lawmakers and outside the coalition, did not join the motion, weakening the opposition.
Thailand's government agreed to a December 7 to 11 schedule for its first censure debate in parliament, government spokesperson Ekkapob Pianpises said on Tuesday, in a report datelined Bangkok on November 3. A confidence vote would take place on December 11 under the timetable agreed by government and opposition whips, he said.
Opposition parties filed a motion targeting 18 ministers from the ruling Bhumjaithai Party, including Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. The opposition may file a no-confidence motion once a year. Its allegations include fraud in the upper house election process, corruption in local government examinations and mismanagement of the economy and recent floods.
Bhumjaithai has rejected the allegations and said it is ready to face the proceedings in parliament. Anutin's coalition, which came to power after Bhumjaithai's election win in February, holds 292 seats in the 499-member house against the opposition's 207. More than half of house members must support a motion to remove the premier or a minister.
The Kla Tham Party, which has 58 lawmakers and is not in Anutin's coalition, did not join the motion, weakening the opposition. Wanwichit Boonprong, a political science lecturer at Rangsit University, said Anutin is expected to prevail because of his house majority, though there may be a cabinet reshuffle later.