Lack of quorum causes postponement of joint parliamentary sitting

BANGKOK, 16 March 2010 (NNT) – Only 80 out of 625 Parliament members signed up for the joint parliamentary meeting this morning, causing Parliament President Chai Chidchob to order definite postponement of the meeting due to lack of quorum.

Mr Chai said the meeting was earlier scheduled because a backlog of draft laws were awaiting parliament’s consideration, and he didn’t think it would repeat the situation on 7 October 2008. However, government whips, after a discussion with Opposition and Senate whips, on Monday resolved to shun the meeting so as to avoid a challenge to the red-shirts who were rallying nearby.

Mr Chai said he would discuss with the tri-partite whips about the steps to be taken if the UDD rally becomes protracted causing failure to parliament meetings. At the Parliament building, police still provide tight security around the clock.

Meanwhile, Opposition chief whip Withaya Buranasiri said it should have been the duty of the government to call the joint sitting of parliament, to use it as a stage to explain developments under Section 179 and to seek parliamentary suggestions on the situation.

Mr Withaya added if the government was still unable to attend the meeting next week, it should consider itself and dissolve the parliament.