Parliament Nears Collapse as Opposition Demands Quorum Check
Late-night tension in the Thai parliament on September 9 as the People's Party requested a quorum check amid accusations of ruling coalition delays on EC budget debates.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- People's Party requested a sudden quorum check at 23.45 to counter budget debate delay tactics
- Opposition accused the coalition of pushing EC budget and Senate collusion cases into late-night hours
- Parliament maintained a quorum of 284 MPs after verification led by acting chair Lerssak
A parliamentary session late on the night of September 9 nearly collapsed after opposition lawmakers triggered a sudden quorum check. The dramatic move unfolded amid ongoing debates over the national expenditure bill, highlighting a fierce battle of wills between opposition and coalition forces over scheduling and sensitive agenda items.
Tensions flared at 23.00 when Parit Wacharasindhu, a list-MP from the People's Party, raised concerns regarding the timeline for the fiscal budget readings set for September 10. He inquired whether the House would agree to convene on September 11 to address two crucial matters: the southern border provinces motion and the Election Commission (EC) annual report, emphasizing the opposition's full readiness for the session.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Lerssak Pattanachaikul, the second deputy speaker presiding over the meeting, responded that while no formal agreement had been made, cooperation was possible if both party whips reached a consensus. He urged the chamber to press forward with the current budget readings due to their urgent priority.
By 23.30, visible political maneuvering emerged as coalition members, spearheaded by the Bhumjaithai Party, coordinated to maintain attendance through Article 32 regarding independent agency and attorney-general budgets. Observers closely watched this section, anticipating sharp scrutiny over the Election Commission's funds and the controversial Senate collusion investigation.
Late-night budget deliberations in the Thai parliament often serve as tactical arenas where political factions negotiate time limits and exposure. Pushing contentious issues like independent agency oversight into the early morning hours frequently aims to minimize public attention, while quorum calls remain a primary legislative tool for the opposition to force transparency and structured timelines.
Opposition sources disclosed that the ruling coalition intended to drag out the debate on Article 32 well into the early hours of 03.00 to 05.00. The strategy allegedly sought to minimize public visibility on the Election Commission and Senate scandal discussions compared to a daytime spotlight on September 10.
At 23.45, during deliberations on Article 25 concerning the Ministry of Public Health budget, Non Paisarnlimcharoenkit, a People's Party MP for Nonthaburi, intervened by calling for a quorum check. Pakornwut Udompipatskul, a list-MP for the party, stated the opposition was willing to withdraw the request if the ruling camp provided a definitive closing time for September 10 and streamlined speaker lists, though no firm assurances were given amid ongoing interruptions from coalition benches.
"We have been exhausted for days, but do we not agree that past midnight tonight, the chair will suspend the meeting and resume later? This has been practiced for a long time; in the past, we even sat through 7 days and 7 nights."
Prayuth Siripanich
Ultimately, at 23.55, Lerssak closed the attendance registration, recording a total of 284 members present. This successfully secured the required quorum, allowing the legislative proceedings to continue while the chair urged members to seek a cooperative resolution.
Source: Matichon Politics
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