Adisorn Piengkes, a Pheu Thai party-list MP, announced on Monday that he and other MPs would bring an urgent motion to the House of Representatives questioning Padipat Suntiphada’s competence to continue serving as deputy House speaker.
The senior lawmaker, who also serves as the government’s chief whip, asserted that he and Chousak Sirinil, a fellow party-list lawmaker and the Pheu Thai party’s legal counsel, had concurred that Padipat’s “expulsion” from the Move Forward party last week did not comply with the party’s rules.
According to the party’s rules, a member can only be dismissed if they have engaged in substantial misconduct or committed an egregious disciplinary or ethical offense.
Adisorn asserted that Padipat’s “expulsion” from the Move Forward party was really a sham, in contrast to the earlier dismissal of a number of other party members who were allegedly betraying the organization.
He claimed that he and his colleagues find it challenging to accept Padipat as the deputy House speaker because Padipat has already been “sacked” by the party.
No personal animosity toward Padipat, according to Adisorn, and neither does his party desire to take over the position.
In accordance with the Constitution, the Move Forward party can nominate Chaithawat Tulathon to be the opposition leader, but in exchange, it would have to give up Padipat’s position as deputy House speaker.
To keep his parliamentary status and his position as the deputy House speaker, Padipat will have to submit an application for membership to a new party, most likely the Fair party, within 30 days after his expulsion.
