Thai PM rejects opposition call for general debate

BANGKOK, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said on Sunday that his government rejected the call by the opposition Democrat Party for a parliamentary debate on national problems during the ongoing extraordinary House session, citing time constraints.Speaking during his weekly TV and radio address, Samak said that the current extraordinary House session is aimed at considering government expenditures for Fiscal 2009, which will begin on October 1 this year and organic laws under the constitution and therefore it has no time for added parliamentary debate.Normally, a House extraordinary session is held for three days to consider the draft government's budget for the new fiscal year but the session is extended upon requests by whips to consider a few "important draft laws", Samak said.If held, members of the opposition Democrat Party still cannot cast no-confidence vote against the government during the general debate.The House extraordinary session is due to open on June 25 and close on June 27.Touching on threats by the Democrat Party members that they would seek a censure debate against the government if the request for the general debate is rejected, Samak said, adding that he personally has "no problem" but he would not extend the planned closure of the current extraordinary session.The government has no fears about the debate because it "has done nothing wrong during the past four months of administration," he said.

 BANGKOK, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said on Sunday that his government rejected the call by the opposition Democrat Party for a parliamentary debate on national problems during the ongoing extraordinary House session, citing time constraints. Speaking during his weekly TV and radio address, Samak said that ... ...current extraordinary House session is aimed at considering government expenditures for Fiscal 2009, which will begin on October 1 this year and organic laws under the constitution and therefore it has no time for added parliamentary debate. Normally, a House extraordinary session is held for three days to consider the draft government's budget for the new fiscal year but the session is extended upon requests by whips to consider a few "important draft laws", Samak said. If held, members of the opposition Democrat Party still cannot cast no-confidence vote against the government during the general debate. The House extraordinary session is due to open on June 25 and close on June 27. Touching on threats by the Democrat Party members that they would seek a censure debate against the government if the request for the general debate is rejected, Samak said, adding that he personally has "no problem" but he would not extend the planned closure of the current extraordinary session. The government has no fears about the debate because it "has done nothing wrong during the past four months of administration," he said.

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