PTP Government Whip Urges Opposition to Resume Talks on Disapproval Debate Schedule

Key summary

Rhomtham Khananurak, the government whip for the Party for Thailand (PTP), called on the opposition coalition to return to negotiations regarding the schedule for the parliamentary disapproval debate. He stated that while the opposition has a constitutional right to debate, determining an appropriate date and time requires joint agreement between both sides, as the Council of Ministers must also attend to answer allegations. Khananurak noted that on October 8, 2026, the opposition submitted a request for a six-hour debate over five days in late October, but the Council of Ministers indicated availability only for three days plus one voting day between October 27 and 29, 2026. During a joint meeting of the parliamentary committees on October 21, 2026, both sides agreed that a five-day debate was unfeasible under current constraints and suggested reducing it to four days. Following coordination with the Council of Ministers, the government proposed extending the debate to four days between October 26 and 29, with voting on October 30, granting the opposition 45-48 hours of speaking time—the longest duration since the Prayut Chan-o-cha administration. Khananurak explained that Prime Ministerial and ministerial duties in late October, November, and December prevent a five-day block, yet the opposition insisted on late October or shifted to November/December without adjusting their timeline. He attributed the stalemate to the opposition's walkout from the three-party committee meeting on October 22, 2026, which halted progress. Khananurak emphasized that both sides must take a step back and negotiate in good faith based on reality to reach a mutually acceptable solution.