Column: Political People’s Forum
In 3 months It’s a dangerous time. A turning point for Settha Thaweesin’s government
Due to the political battle over the main issue the battlefield will be moved to the House of Representatives. After the Council meeting Voted to accept the principles of the budget bill for the year 2024.
First, the budget review will be closely followed on many issues, especially the “army budget”.
Secondly, the 500 billion baht loan bill will go to parliament after the State Council gives the go-ahead to the government.
Third, a general debate without a Senate vote and a no-confidence debate in the Senate. Member of Parliament investigating the case and actual trial Thaksin Shinawatra
Fourth, consider holding a referendum. Amending the Constitution except for Section 1 and Section 2 is another dangerous checkpoint.
All four This will happen within 3 months because this parliamentary session will end on April 9, 2024.
It is a “recruitment” battle in parliament that must be won. Even though there are 314 absolute votes in the House of Representatives, if you fail to get a good foothold, you may lose your balance, tip over, and tip over.
Budget battle
The budget that is “watched” the most when considering the budget at the “Commission” level is the budget of The “Ministry of Defense” dates back to the time when the Pheu Thai party was in opposition. The “army budget” was often discussed every time as a big agenda item. And the purchase of military equipment, especially “submarines”, was high on the agenda of discussions.
Therefore, when the Pheu Thai Party moved into government, the “submarine budget” became a hot issue again. Because the government will turn it into a frigate and it will have problems. It will be difficult to proceed with the purchase of a submarine. More than 6 billion have already been paid to cancel it, so it has become a big agenda. included in the budget agenda
At the beginning of April, agendas 2 and 3 will be considered again. The Kaew Klai party is certainly preparing to organize another series of attacks.
Sources in the Cabinet said that the government has only a month to breathe, which is April. But later it was necessary to start considering the budget framework for the year 2025 again to send it to the Council of Ministers (Cabinet) for approval before it was presented to the council. In the next session starting July 3, 2024.
Exciting 500 billion baht loan deed
Pheu Thai Government High expectations for the flagship project, which will distribute “10,000 baht in digital currency” using a 500 billion budget, through legislation to borrow money to implement the project.
After the State Council Send a response to the government with a “secret” stamp explaining the law: If it became a money lending law It must not conflict with Section 53 of the State Financial and Fiscal Discipline Law. and must listen to the views of all parties
When the State Council did not oppose or hinder the Pheu Thai Party, from now on Pheu Thai Party Show evidence of the need to borrow money. before importing them into a large digital wallet card before transmitting it to the Cabinet and sending it to the House of Representatives for consideration
Progressive senators are ready to receive knives and wait to be dissected.
Deputies and senators question the government
Because the Senate is preparing to exploit the conditions provided for by article 153 of the Constitution to open a debate on the government without voting.
Game creator likes it “Somchai Sawangwong” The Senator, as counsel to the Senate Special Affairs Committee, provides examples of issues prepared for government debriefing, including:
Implementation of the digital wallet policy Because in the past so far it has been 4 months wasted, but the government has not adopted the policy it campaigned for. They will say it is urgent. It doesn’t fit into the category. Because if it’s really urgent We had to issue an emergency decree, but the government didn’t dare to do it because it knew it couldn’t be done.
The case of Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra, a prisoner who is now in the police hospital, which is the case of Thaksin It is a problem and a challenge for the judicial process.
While the opposition parliamentarians Chaithawat Tulathon Progressive Party Leader The opposition leader said that in addition to keeping an eye on the loan account He will come and make a digital wallet if it is actually proposed to parliament. It will be an important program. I’m still following and checking. Gather background information for a no-safety discussion. or discuss without voting
Since the government has only been able to work for about 3 months, there is still no clarity on many issues. Regardless of whether there is clarity in carrying out government policies, including clear information on whether or not there is behavior that amounts to abuse of power or corruption to the point of being questioned and trusted. I think it opened at the beginning of the year. This would be the moment when the opposition party will have to decide whether or not to present a confidence debate.
“As for the ‘police tickets’, we continue to follow them. Since the appointment of the National Police Commissioner which can be considered an illegal act New Police Act The director’s ticket is also followed. There could be more highlights than this.
However, it is unclear whether The Progressive Party will choose the method Debate on no-confidence in the government According to Article 151 of the Constitution or choose to use the debate without voting. Or as the political terminology calls it, a “free reprimand” debate, in which the deadline for debating the government must expire. Before the close of the council meeting on 9 April 2024
cut the constitutional cord
In January 2024 “Phoomtham Wechachai” The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade conducted the referendum on the new constitution. As president of the commission studying the guidelines for holding a referendum to amend the constitution, he also confirmed that he will propose a major agenda, namely to hold a “referendum” to amend the constitution, with the exception of the Section 1, Section 2, to be submitted to the Cabinet meeting for approval.
It is the “first” of all the referendums called by the Education Commission. There is a conclusion to be made up to 3 times.
The first referendum will take place within 90-120 days, not starting in April. The first referendum question was:
“Do you approve of the drafting of a new Constitution? without modifying Section 1, General Provisions, Section 2, of the King.”
Let’s assume the first referendum goes well. The government will present a draft amendment to the Constitution to Parliament. This is an amendment to Article 256 of the Constitution. Paving the way for a Constitutional Drafting Assembly (SR)
The Constitution game will become a big game in the House of Representatives in about 3-4 months.
A burning agenda awaits the government, and Parliament will be the “great battlefield”.
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