The Opposition’s chief whip claims there is an ongoing attempt by someone in the Government bloc to “bribe” about 20 opposition MPs with “bananas worth an eight-digit amount” to be in the House chamber this afternoon to ensure a quorum for a crucial meeting.

At least 249 MPs must be present in the House chamber to form a quorum, so the meeting can proceed with a vote recount, as demanded by the Government, on the opposition motion to set up a panel to investigate the impacts of the pre-election junta’s orders and executive orders issued under Section 44 of the interim constitution.

The opposition chief whip, Mr. Suthin Klangsaeng, told the media this morning that the report about the bribery attempt is very disturbing, adding that all opposition MPs will stay away from the House chamber and will leave the Government to work on securing a quorum.

Commenting on a report that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had threatened to dissolve the House, if the House fails to convene a meeting for the third time, Mr. Suthin said that the Prime Minister needs a better reason to justify a dissolution, not just the government’s inability to reach a quorum.

It is reported that the Prime Minister, Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda and Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak are unhappy with the Democrat party after six of its MPs voted in support of the opposition motion last week.

The Prime Minister is reported to have told his cabinet yesterday that “if I cannot stay in the government, you cannot stay either.”

Anupong is quoted to have said “When the Democrat party was the core party in Government, I helped them by maintaining peace and order. Why is the Democrat party treating the government this way now?  Don’t they know the situation in the country now?”

Palang Pracharat, the core party in the governing coalition, held a get-together at a Bangkok hotel last night, reportedly to remind all coalition parties of the need for their MPs to be in the House chamber this afternoon.