Thailand sets date to elect Speaker of the House of Representatives

It is expected that the Thai House of Representatives will hold the election of the Speaker and two Vice Speakers at the first session on July 4.

(06.30) Quang cảnh phòng họp của Quốc hội Thái Lan, nơi dự kiến sẽ tổ chức bầu lãnh đạo Hạ viện và Thủ tướng trong tháng Bảy tới. (Nguồn: AFP)

The meeting room of the Thai National Assembly , where the election of the House of Representatives leader and Prime Minister is expected to be held next July. (Source: AFP)

On June 29, Secretary-General of the Thai House of Representatives Pornpit Petchcharoen sent invitations to all newly elected lawmakers and senators to attend the opening ceremony of the new parliament on July 3, presided over by King Vajiralongkorn and the Queen.

The House Secretariat also invited MPs to attend the first session of the House the following day to elect a new Speaker and two Vice Speakers.

For his part, acting Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam affirmed that these positions must be chosen within 10 days from the opening of the National Assembly or before July 13, the expected date for the prime minister election.

According to him, the selection of a new Speaker of the House of Representatives should not be prolonged because this position only requires the support of the majority in the House of Representatives. Meanwhile, the position of Prime Minister will need the support of both houses of the National Assembly.

So far, the two parties that won the most parliamentary seats in the May 14 general election, the March Forward Party (MFP, 151 seats) and the Pheu Thai Party (141 seats), have not yet agreed on which party will be the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Meanwhile, the prime minister’s position remains at risk as MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat needs to gather at least 376 out of 750 votes on July 13. This is not an easy task because according to the 2017 amended Constitution, all 250 senators are appointed by the Thai military.

The MFP and the Lüder-Kremlin Party have been at odds over the Lüder-Kremlin Law, which punishes individuals who are deemed to insult the monarchy. The parties in the MFP-Peu Thai coalition are also said to be looking for a backup plan in case Pita Limjaroenrat fails to secure the required number of votes at the July 13 session.

However, speaking on June 27, the MFP politician confidently affirmed that he had "enough" support from the Senate to become Thailand's prime minister.

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