People’s Party not ready for big league

Alas, the reformist People’s Party (PP) has shot itself in the foot, once again.

- Veera Prateepchaikul

The People's Party holds a press conference at the party's offices after Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul dissolved the House.

(COURTESY OF THE PEOPLE'S PARTY)

The latest botch happened on Dec 11 during the joint sitting of the Senate and the House to vote on the second reading of the charter amendment bill.The PP was confident the bill would comfortably sail through the reading without any problem, but they were wrong.

Many Bhumjaithai Party MPs voted against the bill, regardless of the fact that the government whips had endorsed it. It was amended during the scrutiny process to delete the requirement that one-third of the votes from the Senate be needed for passage of the bill at its third reading.

The U-turn from the ruling Bhumjaithai Party’s MPs returned power back to the hands of the Senate.

Upset by the Bhumjaithai Party's about-face, PP leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut threatened to submit a motion to House Speaker Wan Mohamad Noor Matha seeking a no-confidence debate against Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and his cabinet.

Mr Natthaphong also dared the prime minister to dissolve the House to show accountability for the U-turn. He did not need to show defiance.

Indeed, it seems Mr Anutin had prepared to dissolve the House last week in advance. Wasting no time, a royal decree to dissolve the House was immediately sent to the Royal Palace for approval, before the PP submitted its no-confidence motion to the House speaker, which under the rules would normally prevent the prime minister from dissolving the House.

The House dissolution will nullify all bills which are pending in parliament, including the charter amendment bill, which is viewed by the PP as the key mechanism to advance its cherished goal for social reform or “change for the better” of Thai society.