House Speaker Addresses Lack of Quorum

[Jonathan Fairfield]

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - With recent parliamentary sessions delayed over a lack of quorum, the House Speaker is asking members of parliament (MPs) to uphold their end of the bargain by attending legislative sessions next year. More hours could be added to the sessions to allow more motions to be processed.

 

House Speaker Chuan Leekpai acknowledged that the absence of a quorum paints the image of Parliament in a negative light.

The insufficient quorum mostly occurs in the evening when some MPs have to leave the main assembly to attend other meetings.

 

The speaker also reiterated that it is the duty of all sides, especially the coalition that holds the most seats, to meet the quorum for each session. He also said they must attend legislative sessions to pass laws, in addition to their duties as representatives of their constituencies.

 

House Speaker Chuan is set to discuss the matter with leaders of the opposition, with new measures such as additional meeting hours to be introduced in order to give Parliament more time to deliberate motions and bills.

 

Opposition leader Dr. Chonlanan Srikaew meanwhile said the issue had already been discussed between the speaker and the opposition whip, with opposition parties pledging to keep the administration in check.

 

He added that the opposition is willing to support the work of all parliamentary committees, while urging coalition MPs to show due diligence by attending legislative sittings.

 

The parliament’s first meeting of 2022 has been postponed to comply with COVID-19-related guidelines. The new date will be decided following a situation assessment by the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2022-01-02

 

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[mtls2005]

9 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

He also said they must attend legislative sessions to pass laws

Who knew?

 

thai-style democracy.

 

Why am I not surprised.

 

Maybe truck in some migrant workers?

 

 

Seriously, just a buy 35 baht rubber stamp (OK, 37 million baht with "fees") and replace all the window dressing.

 

Prayut orders legislation, speaker rubber stamps it, it's published. Workflow simplified.

 

 

 

 

[BritManToo]

Maybe they're scared of catching COVID.

As a previous poster stated, do thy really need anyone except Prayut?

This sham Parliament doesn't need anyone else to be there.

[mikebell]

Just dock their wages if they don't do the work; that's what happens in the wider world.

[Tropicalevo]

7 minutes ago, mikebell said:

Just dock their wages if they don't do the work; that's what happens in the wider world.

Better still - sack them.

[law ling]

1. This one made me laugh:

 

"He also said they must attend legislative sessions to pass laws..."

 

... surely there's an option to reject proposed laws? ... or is it true that everything must be passed?

 

2. Nothing to do with the speaker as such: there should be laws in place governing how the business of parliment is to be conducted - if opposition (or lazy) members exploit existing loopholes without sanction, then good luck to them.

[candide]

1 hour ago, law ling said:

1. This one made me laugh:

 

"He also said they must attend legislative sessions to pass laws..."

 

... surely there's an option to reject proposed laws? ... or is it true that everything must be passed?

 

2. Nothing to do with the speaker as such: there should be laws in place governing how the business of parliment is to be conducted - if opposition (or lazy) members exploit existing loopholes without sanction, then good luck to them.

3. To start with, there should be a legitimate parliament and government, resulting from free and fair elections, which is not the case now. This is exactly what the opposition's is trying to get by playing this quorum game: get free and fair elections.

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

With recent parliamentary sessions delayed over a lack of quorum, the House Speaker is asking members of parliament (MPs) to uphold their end of the bargain by attending legislative sessions next year. More hours could be added to the sessions to allow more motions to be processed.

They give me more motions, that's for sure.

[klauskunkel]

3 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

House Speaker Chuan Leekpai acknowledged that the absence of a quorum paints the image of Parliament in a negative light.

maybe Truant Officers could help with that

Edited January 2, 2022 by klauskunkel

[RichardColeman]

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

As a previous poster stated, do thy really need anyone except Prayut?

since due to fixing the house and they are always outnumbered and out voted, the opposition don't

[Chris.B]

3 hours ago, mikebell said:

Just dock their wages if they don't do the work; that's what happens in the wider world.

Not in Britain! ????

[mikebell]

22 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

Better still - sack them.

How do you sack a General?

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, mikebell said:

How do you sack a General?

Maybe a 'firing' squad?

Edited January 3, 2022 by BritManToo

[zzaa09]

On 1/1/2022 at 8:58 PM, RichardColeman said:

since due to fixing the house and they are always outnumbered and out voted, the opposition don't

As this has been the structure of the parliamentary body since memory, even during those off-again/on-again civilian governments of recent history.