Thailand’s opposition parties submitted a motion to the House of Representatives today, seeking a general debate against the government of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, accusing it of failing to fulfil its election promises, or the policies identified in the statement delivered by the prime minister to parliament, in the more than six months since it took office.
Opposition and Move Forward party leader Chaithawat Tulathon cited various policies and promises which are yet to be implemented, including energy restructuring, farmers’ indebtedness, military reform, political conflict resolution, educational reform, the addressing of environmental problems, double standards in law enforcement, bureaucratic corruption, eliminating “dark” influences, reducing the cost of living and the protection of basic rights and liberties.
He said that the opposition cannot afford to sit idly by while the government to continues its poor performance, incompetence and lack of direction which, in the long run, will hurt the country, economically and socially.
Chaithawat said the opposition expects that the general debate, without a concluding vote, will be a wake-up call for the government, adding that the people have high expectations from the government after eight years of rule by a junta-affiliated government.
He assured that the opposition is fully prepared and ready to perform its duty to keep a check on the government, as he noted that the Election Commission’s decision to seek a Constitutional Court dissolution of the Move Forward party has nothing to do with the opposition as a whole.
The opposition leader dismissed the government’s claim that the delay in the disbursement of the 2024 national budget is the cause of the government’s failure to fulfil its promises and deliver on its policies.
After receiving the motion, House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha said he will call a meeting of government and opposition whips to discuss details of the general debate, including the timing and the debate time allocation for the two camps.
