Opposition leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut began the no-confidence debate today by unleashing a flurry of accusations against Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, ranging from being unqualified, incompetent, immature and irresponsible to protecting family and vested interests to the detriment of national interests.
He accused the prime minister and the coalition parties of trading national for vested interests, while completely ignoring public protests, citing the case of the planned entertainment complex project.
The People’s Party leader noted that the Paetongtarn administration’s advancement of vested interests, over those of the nation, has resulted in Thailand being downgraded in terms of democratic rule and a slowing economy.
In an apparent reference to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, he said that Thailand is now led by two people, one of whom is inexperienced and immature, but is touted as a new generation leader, and the other who is experienced and in control of the government, but without being held accountable and beyond scrutiny as “an outsider.”
Opposition MPs are not allowed to mention Thaksin by his name during the censure debate.
Natthaphong said that justice over the Tak Bai massacre in Narathiwat about two decades ago has not been delivered, because the government has allowed the defendants to evade accountability, adding that the government has also declined to take any action over the special treatment of Thaksin, when he was allowed to serve his prison sentence in the comfort of the Police General Hospital, due to dubious claims of serious medical conditions.
Because of the government’s failures in maintaining the rule of law, the spending of taxpayers’ money on unproductive projects and the economic downturn, among others, Natthaphong said the government cannot be trusted under Paetongtarn’s premiership.
