Rongtham Calls for Opposition to Return to Negotiations on Impeachment Debate Schedule

Key summary

Rongtham Khanunarak, a member of parliament and government whip for the Party for Thailand, urged the opposition to return to negotiations regarding the schedule for the upcoming debate on ministers' confidence. He stated that while the opposition has the constitutional right to initiate such debates, determining the appropriate dates and times requires joint agreement between both sides. Khanunarak noted that on October 8, 2026, the opposition requested a six-hour debate period over five days in late October, but the Council of Ministers offered availability only for three days between October 27-29, 2026. Subsequent meetings on October 21 and 22, 2026, highlighted that a five-day schedule was unfeasible under current constraints, while a three-day schedule did not meet opposition demands. A proposal to reduce the debate to four days was discussed, with the government offering dates in late October or November/December depending on ministerial commitments. Khanunarak criticized the opposition for walking out of meetings without reaching a conclusion and emphasized that both sides must compromise and find a realistic solution.