Former Move Forward party leader Pita Limjaroenrat bade farewell to parliament last night, saying that this debate may be the last of his political career, before the party is dissolved by the Constitutional Court.
Making his closing speech at the end of the two-day general debate against the government, Pita, currently advisory chairman to the Move Forward party leader, talked about the party’s victory in the May 14 general election while missing out on the formation of the government.
He gave his assessment of the poor performance of the Pheu Thai-led administration over the past seven months, ranging from its failure to carry out the reforms it promised to the lack of leadership by the prime minister, lack of vision, national agenda and any credible achievements.
Pita said that he does not regret the fact that his party won the election and managed to cobble together 312 votes in parliament, against the Pheu Thai party’s 314, but ended up being pushed into opposition which, he added, is an important role in a democratic system.
“I will never regret that this debate may be the last of my political career. There is no secret about it, everybody knows that my political career is hanging by a thread, but I am ready to walk away as a victor,” said Pita, adding that the likelihood of the dissolution of the Move Forward party will not prevent Thailand from moving towards change and will hasten the pace of the party’s advance toward victory.
Given the responses of ministers against opposition MPs’ criticisms during the two-day debate, Pita said he regrets the loss of opportunities for the country, for the confidence placed in the government by the people and the support that his party gave to the government.
Instead of the government’s “Ignite Thailand” slogan, the former Move Forward party leader said he would prefer the slogan “Darkness of Thailand”, as he pointed out the government’s “darkness” or failures in eight areas, among them being constitutional amendments, bureaucratic reform, economic stimulation, justice process reform and improved quality of life for the people.
Regarding economic growth, Pita said he agrees with Prime Minister Srettha’s claim that Thailand’s GDP growth for the fourth quarter was 2.5%, but noted that it puts Thailand in the 6th place in the region.
Thailand’s tourism is booming, but this is concentrated in just eight out of its 77 provinces, as the rest of the country lacks the facilities that will attract tourists, said Pita.
He said that it is about time for a cabinet reshuffle, to put the right people in the right jobs, because the past seven months have been a total failure for the government.
