Senate debate brought forward to Nov 23-24
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The Senate's general debate against the Yingluck Cabinet will be held on November 23-24, Senate Speaker Nikom Wairatpanij said yesterday.
The government whips had earlier scheduled the debate on November 28, but they have bowed to the demands of Senators that the debate be held before the censure motion, which is scheduled for November 26-27.
Opposition Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said the timing of the censure motion, with voting held on November 28, should not pose any problems, even though the Senate needs to use the hall on that day. He said the voting on the censure motion could be called before the Senate meeting starts at 9.30am.
He said the Opposition would file the no-confidence motion next week and if there are corruption allegations involved, the complaint would be filed with the Senate Speaker to forward to the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
He said the Opposition had prepared a list of MPs who will take the House floor to grill the government. Democrat Jurin Laksanawisit is in charge of the line-up. Love Thailand Party leader Chuwit Kamolwisit would join the opposition in the censure debate.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra rejected reports that she would evade the censure motion, saying she had never said she would not be able to attend the session. “However, I cannot postpone some tasks which are in the country’s interests,’’ she said.
The PM said she was ready to answer the opposition’s questions about the rice-pledging scheme and would accept evidence of corruption in the scheme, should any be produced.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister General Sukampol Suwannathat denied that his move to strip Abhisit of his Army rank of second lieutenant was part of his efforts to hold on to his post, or was being used as a bargain chip against the opposition ahead of its censure motion.
Sukampol had appointed a committee to consider removing Abhisit’s rank on the grounds that he dodged military conscription.
Sukampol said the committee would make its decision before the no-confidence motion is finished.
