Government Gears Up For Censure Debate

Prime Minister Prayuth was defiant on Monday, while commenting on the censure motion against himself and 10 other ministers, due to be debated today. This was despite uncertainty about voting intentions of several minor parties that prop up the government.

• Recent press reports suggested that the so-called Group of 16, which includes lawmakers from microparties and several MPs from the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), was divided on whether to support Cabinet ministers.
• The Bangkok Post reported that Prayuth spoke with the leaders of all coalition parties before the Cabinet meeting yesterday to gauge their attitudes on the censure motions.
• It is expected that the opposition will fail to reach a simple majority needed to unseat a minister, with Bangkok Post estimating that it can currently muster 206-207 votes. This will be the last censure debate before PM Prayuth's term expires in March 2023.