Sonthi tipped to join House committee for budget vetting
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The nomination of Matibhum Party leader Sonthi Boonyaratglin to vet the 2013 Budget Bill is appropriate without a hidden agenda, Rak Santi Party leader Purachai Piumsombun said on Wednesday.
Purachai dismissed speculation that the Pheu Thai Party had lobbied him and other small parties to endorse the nomination because the ruling party wanted to show gratitude for Sonthi’s push for reconciliation.
“Small parties made a joint decision in a straightforward manner; there is no conspiracy behind this,” Purachai said.
Rak Prathet Thai Party leader Chuvit Kamolvisit alleged that the ruling party had departed from precedents and allocated one seat in the 63-member House committee in charge of vetting the budget as a favour for Sonthi.
Chief opposition whip Jurin Laksanawisit said he would leave it up to the small parties to form a consensus on the nomination.
Before entering politics, Sonthi was the leader of the 2006 coup to oust the then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Many see him as making a political about-turn on spearheading to mend fences and grant amnesty to Thaksin.
The House committee is scheduled to be formed in the afternoon to scrutinise the Bt2.44 trillion spending plans before the final passage of the bill.
The Nation
