Parliament President Chuan Leekpai has scheduled an informal cross-party meeting for consultation on how Thailand’s Parliament can contribute to ending the current political conflict, which is pitting student-led protesters, demanding political change, against the Government.
Mr. Chuan said today that he has been coordinating between Government and Opposition MPs for some time and has scheduled a meeting to discuss a special parliamentary session, adding that he has already instructed parliamentary officials to make preparations for the session.
Parliament is currently in recess and is due to sit again on November 1st.
The Parliament President said that, personally, he wants the special session to be convened, but that he is powerless to do so because it is a matter for Government and Opposition MPs.
Opposition Chief Whip and Pheu Thai MP Suthin Klangsaeng, meanwhile, said that the party had designated Mr. Prasert Chantharawongthong, the party’s Secretary-General, and Mr. Somkid Chuakhong, the opposition’s Deputy Chief Whip to attend the meeting tomorrow.
He disclosed that the Pheu Thai Party will propose the convening of a special parliamentary session and peace talks between the Government and the protesters, in order to find a solution to the conflict, as well as to discuss the appropriateness of the severe emergency decree imposed by the Government in Bangkok.
Even though there are still 12 days until Parliament formally reconvenes, Suthin said that the current political situation is developing very fast and that it may be too late if Parliament waits until November 1st to start discussing how it can help address the conflict.
Student-led protests have been held on a daily basis, since October 14th, at different locations in Bangkok, to press for the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, a new Constitution and sweeping reform of the Monarchy.
