PM likely to be attacked during censure debate
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The censure debate against Justice Minister Pracha Promnok this coming Sunday is likely to be used by the opposition to launch attacks against Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her brother Thaksin, a senior coalition figure said Monday.
Paijit Sriworakhan, a senior MP from ruling Pheu Thai Party, said that he was convinced opposition MPs, particularly those from the Democrat Party, would during the debate “make a free kick” against Yingluck and Thaksin.
“This is going to be like a censure debate against the prime minister. It’s just that Pracha will be the person who gets shot at, and not the prime minister. So we have to help him,” said Paijit, who is part of the coalition whips.
He also said that four or five Pheu Thai MPs would be assigned to act as “bodyguards” for Pracha during the noconfidence debate, citing yesterday’s resolution by the coalition whips. Those MPs would protest and respond to any move by opposition MPs that was viewed as irrelevant to the debate motion, according to Paijit.
The Democrats last week filed the noconfidence motion against Pracha, saying that he failed in floodcontrol efforts and condoned irregularities regarding distribution of relief supplies. Pracha heads the government’s Flood Relief Operation Centre.
