Parliament will not cooperate if PM refuses to attend: Wisut - The Nation
Parliament will not cooperate if PM refuses to attend: Wisut
The Nation March 22, 2013 1:00 am
Deputy House Speaker Wisut Chainarun warned yesterday that the Parliament would not cooperate with the Cabinet if Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra continued ignoring her parliamentary duties.
He said Yingluck had not attended any Parliament meetings to answer the queries submitted by the opposition, even though her party had been informed about the necessity of her presence.
Democrat MP for Bangkok Rachada Dhnadirek had submitted a query asking if the premier had any intentions to secure the right to host the 2020 World Expo. Bhum Jai Thai party-list MP Supachai Jaisamut asked about the government's sincerity in protecting the monarchy in connection with controversies surrounding the Thai PBS controversial "Tob Jote" talk show.
PM to be formally asked
Wisut said he would submit a formal letter to Yingluck, asking her to attend Parliament meetings, and if she refuses, the Parliament will have to sever its ties with the government.
Opposition whip Jurin Laksanawisit said he would call on the Parliament to issue an official rebuke for the prime minister and other ministers who might fail to attend House meetings.
In a separate development, Yingluck yesterday dismissed claims that she had abused her authority to help campaign for Pheu Thai gubernatorial candidate Pongsapat Pongcharoen.
She said she had joined the campaign outside office hours and did not use her authority as premier to help.
On Wednesday, the Election Commission resolved to conduct an investigation into the complaint of Suriyasai Katasila, a coordinator of the Green Group.
The complaint alleged that Yingluck had abused her authority as prime minister to help Pongsapat obtain permission to campaign inside the compound of the First Infantry Battalion in Din Daeng.
She was speaking to reporters at the Suvarnabhumi Airport before departing on a four-day official visit to New Zealand and Papua New Guinea yesterday.
Pongsapat was at the airport to see her off.
The EC has invited commander of the battalion to testify, but the commander said he is waiting for permission to speak from his superior. The EC has said the Bangkok Election Commission can interview the commander.
The prime minister will not be summoned to testify as of now, the EC said.