A Pheu Thai MP has warned the opposition that, if it attempts to link the parliamentary debate on the budget bill for the 2024 fiscal year, due to start tomorrow, to the current status of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, they could face legal action.
Visuth Chainaroon, deputy government chief whip, spoke today after chairing a government whip’s meeting regarding preparations for the three-day debate. “The government is not worried about the debate, because it is confident that its ministers can explain their budget allocations,” he said.
Pheu Thai MPs have expressed interest in speaking during the debate, Visuth added, stating that he is sure the debate will proceed smoothly.
Visuth did, however, refer to reports that the opposition bloc may scrutinise the budget of the Corrections Department, in an attempt to connect the department with Thaksin, who is sentenced to a commuted jail term of one year on corruption charges, but who is yet to spend one night in an actual prison, after his admission to the Police General Hospital on what was to be his first day of incarceration.
The department is being criticised for providing “VVIP treatment” to Thaksin. “The opposition should not mention Thaksin in parliament, as he is not involved in the budget bill debate. This is not a censure debate,” Visuth said.
If they talk about Thaksin, a non-MP and a third-party, they could face legal action, as parliamentary immunity cannot protect them, Visuth claimed.
