Thaksin Unlikely To Back Mingkwan

[Buchholz]

Three-day censure will do: Phiraphan

The opposition will not scale down the grilling of the government although House Speaker Chai Chidchob has cut the censure from four to three days, Pheu Thai MP Phiraphan Phalusuk said on Tuesday.

The censure is slated to take place next week from Tuesday to Thursday. And the vote on the motion of no confidence will be cast on Friday.

Phiraphan said his main opposition party was obliged to comply with Chai's decision.

-- The Nation 2011-03-08

[Buchholz]

Censure Debate Date Postponed to March 15

The House Speaker has announced that the censure debate will take place between March 15 and 17, with a no-confidence vote to be held on March 18.

At the same time, the prime minister is planning to have discussions with the Election Commission to prepare for the upcoming general election.

House Speaker Chai Chidchob has announced that the new date for the parliamentary censure debate has been scheduled to take place between March 15 and 17 with the non-confidence vote to be held on March 18.

Originally, the debate was set to begin on March 9, but Chai postponed the debate because of problems with the Opposition's documents.

The House Speaker said that the prime minister has already been informed of the new date.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban commented on a claim made by the Opposition's Pheu Thai Party that the debate will be the end of the current administration, saying that he has no idea what exactly the main Opposition party meant by such comments.

However, Suthep said that the government has already decided to dissolve the House soon after the debate to pave way for the next general election.

The deputy prime minister expressed some concern over the recent incidents in which the prime minister was harassed by a group of people at various venues, saying that such actions could lead to violence during the election.

Suthep reiterated that the government is willing to listen, but everyone must express themselves within the boundaries set by the Constitution.

At the same time, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said that he will meet with the Election Commission this Friday to discuss preparations for the next general election.

Electoral laws are to be adjusted after several articles in the Constitution, stipulating electoral laws, was recently amended.

The premier expects the issue of the House dissolution to be clarified after the meeting.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-08

[gemini81]

Oops, overlooked the importance of the ultra-dynamic Censure Debate Leader... so in addition to the above, there will also be a few minutes of:

chimpanzee with glasses! no denying the striking resemblance.

[whybother]

Deputy PM Denies Govt behind Cutting Censure Debate Days

The deputy prime minister on national security says the government was not behind the cutting of the censure debate days from four to three as it was a decision made by the House speaker.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban denied government interference behind the lowering of the censure debate days from four to three.

Suthep said House Speaker Chai Chidchob has full authority on this issue.

Speaking for the ruling coalition, Suthep said he welcomed as many days of debate as needed.

As for Pheu Thai party-list MP Jatuporn Prompan's comment that the prime minister and Suthep will not be able to walk the streets after the censure debate, Suthep said he did not want to waste time to counter what Jatuporn said.

Suthep affirmed his readiness to present evidence to counter allegations by the Opposition during the debate.

Suthep is expected to be grilled on the government's crackdown on the red-shirt protests in April and May last year.

He said he will provide evidence to prove that the red-shirt group had carefully planned their moves.

He added the evidence is real and he will not resort to falsifying evidence to prove his case, which he claimed is probably what Jatuporn is doing right now.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-08

[yoshiwara]

It is very clear from Thaksin's half-hearted support that Mingkwan will be dumped at the first opportunity.

Thaksin knows that he has no policies for PTP and nor will he provide any that threaten the north-eastern landowners who are the cornerstone of his regional support. Vague slogans in favour of the poor will do.

What Thaksin will likely use in order to save the election is a campaign built around him.

All pretense about PTP/reds not being about Thaksin will go. How can he do this clearly and unambiguously?

Step forward Thaksin's sister (if she can be persuaded that is)

Forum red supporters please shuffle forward nervously.

[Emptyset]

It is very clear from Thaksin's half-hearted support that Mingkwan will be dumped at the first opportunity.

Thaksin knows that he has no policies for PTP and nor will he provide any that threaten the north-eastern landowners who are the cornerstone of his regional support. Vague slogans in favour of the poor will do.

Do you mean north-eastern landowners fund the party, or are they MPs? What policies do you think would threaten them? Actually PTP already announced some policies a month or so ago, if you remember... although there were only three or four policies (lifting min wage to 300 baht, increasing min paddy prices etc), not exactly a complete platform.

[rubl]

It is very clear from Thaksin's half-hearted support that Mingkwan will be dumped at the first opportunity.

Thaksin knows that he has no policies for PTP and nor will he provide any that threaten the north-eastern landowners who are the cornerstone of his regional support. Vague slogans in favour of the poor will do.

Do you mean north-eastern landowners fund the party, or are they MPs? What policies do you think would threaten them? Actually PTP already announced some policies a month or so ago, if you remember... although there were only three or four policies (lifting min wage to 300 baht, increasing min paddy prices etc), not exactly a complete platform.

North-Eastern landowners as cornerstone of the party suggest a certain level of support. With the historical patriarchal system that can be position, hierarchy, money support, being MP's. A bit of overlap in all of that. The 'democracy for common people' as grass-root red-shirt issue would threaten those of course. If status and authority because of historical position of the landed elite doesn't count anymore, by Jove, that's threatening.

The PTP policies announced have all the drawbacks they accuse the current government of: how does it match government income? Of course we could wait for k. Thaksin. Recently he said he had the solutions, but that could wait till he would be able to come back

[hyperdimension]

Oops, overlooked the importance of the ultra-dynamic Censure Debate Leader... so in addition to the above, there will also be a few minutes of:

chimpanzee with glasses! no denying the striking resemblance.

I was thinking he looked a lot like Alfred E. Neuman:

[ianbaggie]

You would be disappointed if it wasn't Thaksin that paid, right? Highly unlikely he paid. These people were coming to argue on behalf of someone Mr. Thaksin doesn't support. Why would he have paid for that?

Oh come on now!!! To Mr T any publicity is good publicity

[animatic]

Deputy PM Denies Govt behind Cutting Censure Debate Days

....As for Pheu Thai party-list MP Jatuporn Prompan's comment that the prime minister and Suthep will not be able to walk the streets after the censure debate...

....which he claimed is probably what Jatuporn is doing right now.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-08

Well this is spot on in ironic juxtaposition!

Clearly Jatuporn has been selling his 'personal services' to the highest bidder on the street for some time now.

[Buchholz]

and now, it's back to 4 days duration...

Censure extended from three to four days: whips

The coalition and opposition whips agreed on Wednesday to extend the next week's censure debate from three to four days.

Coalition chief whip Witthaya Kaewparadai and his opposition courterpart Witthaya Buranasiri would forwarded their joint decision to House Speaker Chai Chidchob who earlier decided to cut the debate to three days.

The censure would be rescheduled from next Tuesday to Friday with the vote on the motion of no confidence cast on Saturday.

-- The Nation 2011-03-09

[whybother]

and now, it's back to 4 days duration...

Censure extended from three to four days: whips

But didn't Chalerm say they wouldn't have enough evidence for 4 days?

[Buchholz]

and now, it's back to 4 days duration...

Censure extended from three to four days: whips

But didn't Chalerm say they wouldn't have enough evidence for 4 days?

Yes, several times.

[animatic]

and now, it's back to 4 days duration...

Censure extended from three to four days: whips

But didn't Chalerm say they wouldn't have enough evidence for 4 days?

Yes, several times.

All the negotiations will bore everyone to death before it even gets started, and then they run short, and only let Chalerm and Jatuporn rant at extended intervals to reawaken the sleeping electorate.

As leader of the process, there must be someone assigned to prod Mingkwan awake, mid speech, but then who will awaken the listeners?

Edited March 9, 2011 by animatic

[Buchholz]

Two 18-hour long debate days, one 17-hour long debate day, and one 14-hour long debate day....

Whips Agree Censure Debate Should Get 4 Days

The government and opposition whips have agreed to call for a four-day censure debate and a one-day vote session after the House Speaker recently announced that the debate will last only three days.

The government and opposition parties said the upcoming no-confidence debate should include a four-day censure debate, from March 15 to 18, and a one-day vote, on March 19.

The Opposition whip will soon pass all the details of the debate to House Speaker Chai Chidchob for approval.

Government Chief Whip Witthaya Kaeopharadai said the government has approved a four day debate session, with 40 hours allocated to the Opposition and 20 hours to the Cabinet ministers.

The whips propose that March 15 and 16 will include 18-hour discussions.

The discussion period on March 17 will be cut to 17 hours and that for March 18 to 14 hours.

A vote will finally be taken on the morning of March 19.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Chai Chidchob denied that he was lobbied by the ruling Democrat Party to cut the debate to just three days.

He said he was fine with an increase to four days if the opposition parties had good reasons.

Concerning the request to play a video clip during the meeting, Chai said the matter is to be monitored by government and opposition whips, but the House speaker will render the final decision if needed.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-10

[Buchholz]

Censure debate against Thai government set for 4 days on March 15-18

Thailand's government and its opposition on Wednesday agreed to hold the planned no-confidence debate against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and nine other cabinet ministers for four days from March 15-18, local media reported. After the debate, a voting would take place on March 19, opposition whip Witthaya Buranasiri, a senior member of Puea Thai Party, was quoted as saying by the English-language Bangkok Post online.

Witthaya said Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chai Chidchob, would now be informed of the new agreement. Chai had earlier set the censure debate for three days from March 15-17, with a voting on March 18. Chief government whip Witthaya Kaewparadai, a senior member of Abhisit's Democrat Party, said it was agreed that the debate would extend over 60 hours -- 40 for the opposition and 20 for the government.

If Abhisit is defeated in the vote, he will lose his premiership and his government will be replaced.

Continues:

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/7314284.html

Xinhua - March 10, 2011

[Buchholz]

House Speaker Doesn't Confirm Censure Debate Will Be Extended to 4 Days

House Speaker Chai Chidchob says he has not yet decided whether or not the censure debate will be extended to four days.

The government and opposition whips yesterday agreed to allow the debate to go on for four days as earlier agreed upon.

The debate, however, was granted only a three day bloc by Chai.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-10

[Buchholz]

Oops, overlooked the importance of the ultra-dynamic Censure Debate Leader... so in addition to the above, there will also be a few minutes of:

chimpanzee with glasses! no denying the striking resemblance.

I was thinking he looked a lot like Alfred E. Neuman

A restless night for Mingkwan as he prepares to take center stage tomorrow as a virginal Censure Debate Leader.

The pressure of this do or die time for him must be incredible as he contemplates his future with Thaksin's PTP. His career could be at stake.

I just hope he doesn't faint and get rushed off to the hospital again.

[Buchholz]

no medical emergencies thus far...

Mingkwan Takes Stage at Parliament in Censure Debate

Pheu Thai MP Mingkwan Sangsuwan has started to make his opening statements to kick off the four day censure debate.

Three days of arguments will be heard before a vote is taken on March 19. Ten ministers, including the prime minister, are targeted in this no-confidence motion.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-15