BJT puts PM in the firing line

No-confidence motion to be filed

- APINYA WIPATAYOTIN MONGKOL BANGPRAPA

The Bhumjaithai Party (BJT) will file a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra amid the fallout of the leaked audio clip of her talking with Cambodian strongman Hun Sen.

Nan Boonthida Somchai, spokeswoman for the Bhumjaithai Party, said yesterday the party has resolved to submit a motion of no confidence against the prime minister under Section 151 of the constitution.

"The motion is set to be filed once the third parliamentary session opens on July 3," she said following a joint meeting between the party's executive committee and its MPs.

Ms Nan extended an invitation to fellow opposition parties — namely the People’s Party, Palang Pracharath, the Fair Party and Thai Sang Thai — to co-sign the motion and support the no-confidence debate against the prime minister over her conduct.

Anutin Charnvirakul, Bhumjaithai leader, said at the joint meeting that the party has received strong support from local people, affirming that it has made the right decision to leave the coalition government.

"We will do our best as an opposition party, and none of our MPs have decided to leave the party after we joined the opposition," he said.