Bangkok: Pheu Thai Party has resolved to nominate Chaiya Promma as the first deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, assigning Wisut to clear the gap with Kla Tham.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Danupon Punnakanta, spokesperson for the Pheu Thai Party and a party-list MP, announced after the weekly Pheu Thai MP meeting that MPs had been informed to prepare a quorum, as the House of Representatives was about to convene. He requested votes to postpone the Ethnic Groups Protection and Way of Life Act for approval. Having already passed the Senate, the bill must return to the House of Representatives meeting for a vote in the morning after discussion.
Next will be the matter of the Rail Transport Act, which also requires a quorum, as it has over 100 sections and over 70 sections with disagreements. Therefore, preparation is necessary.
On Thursday, August 7, the Pheu Thai Party urged MPs to prepare a quorum as the government will request a postponement of the election of the First Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives to replace Mr. Pichet Chuamuangphan, who must prepare a quorum.
As for who will be the First Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Pheu Thai Party MPs discussed the matter extensively, inviting members to participate in the debate. Finally, two candidates were nominated: Dr. Tossaporn Sereerak, MP for Phrae, who nominated himself for the position. The other candidate was Mr. Thirachai Saenkaew, MP for Udon Thani, who nominated Mr. Chaiya Phromma, MP for Nong Bua Lamphu, and a former Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives. The MPs secretly voted, writing their names on ballots and dropping them in boxes. The unanimous vote confirmed Mr. Chaiya’s nomination as the First Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Mr. Danupon also stated that the position of First Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, who will replace Mr. Pichet Chuamuangphan, is a quota for the Pheu Thai Party, and therefore, he believes that the position will remain with the Pheu Thai Party.
Regarding the Bhumjaithai Party’s resolution to raise its hand to accept everyone from every political party except the Pheu Thai Party, as the opposition, I will not interfere in any decision. Regarding the Kla Tham Party’s announcement that it has a candidate ready to compete for the position of First Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Danupon stated that there will likely be discussions and has assigned Mr. Wisut Chainarun, the government whip, to discuss the matter with the Kla Tham Party.
When asked if the Kla Tham Party, disappointed with the position of Second Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, still insists that the quota remains with the Pheu Thai Party, Mr. Danupon stated that he believes the Kla Tham Party is aware of the practice of MPs, as the Kla Tham Party is the third-place party in the coalition government. This matter must be discussed within the government whip, and passed to the Kla Tham Party leader.