The Opposition has voiced objection to the duration of the three-day parliamentary debate on the Government’s three executive decrees, to seek 1.9 trillion baht in loans, claiming that they need more time because of the huge amount of indebtedness the loans create.
Pheu Thai party secretary-general Anudit Nakorntap explained today that the debate, scheduled for May 27th to 29th, means just 30 hours of actual debating time in the House of Representatives, which will be equally split between the Government and Opposition camps.
As well as the loan decrees, he said the House will also deliberate another decree about tele-conferencing, which will also take several hours, leaving just ten hours for each side to debat the loan bills.
Anudit said that ten hours for the Opposition will not be enough for it to do its job properly, to delve into the details to make sure that the 1.9 trillion baht in loans will be spent efficiently and for the good of the country and its people.
One decree concerns a loan to help people affected by business closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The second is meant to cushion the impacts on the national economy, and the third is meant for post-COVID-19 rehabilitation.
Responding to the Opposition’s call for more time, Government chief whip, Mr. Wirat Rattanaseth, said that House Speaker Chuan Leekpai has scheduled a meeting this Friday, between Government and Opposition whips, to discuss the format of the debate.
He hinted that, if the debate cannot not be concluded in three days, it might be extended by another day but, at this stage, three days is the limit.
During the debate, MPs from each side will speak alternately for an equal duration, as allotted to each side.
