The House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted in support of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra today, after a no-confidence debate lasting over 37 hours.
The prime minister received 319 votes in support, against 161 “nay” votes. Seven MPs abstained.
Before the vote today, it had been speculated that about 10 of the 172 opposition MPs who are known to be closely affiliated with Thammanat Prompao, advisory chief of the Kla Dham Party, might vote for the prime minister.
Among the seven MPs who abstained are thought to be four from the Democrat Party, including Chuan Leekpai, Jurin Laksanawisit, Banyat Bantadtan and Sanphet Bunyamanee.
Democrat Party Secretary-General Det-it Khaothong said that it is the right of individual MPs to decide how they will vote adding, though, that the party’s MPs would not vote against the prime minister.
Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, said it is the tradition of the party’s MPs to meet at the end of a censure debate and insisted that it is the right of each MP to decide how to vote. Nonetheless, he said all the party’s 69 MPs agreed that they will vote in support of the prime minister.
