Bhumjaithai eyes deputy House speaker role amid MFP uncertainty

Bhumjaithai Party is reportedly eyeing the position of first deputy House speaker if the Move Forward Party (MFP) faces dissolution next week.

Currently, the role is held by Fair Party MP Padipat Suntiphada, who was originally a MFP MP for Phitsanulok province at the time of his nomination and selection.

The law prohibits the main opposition party from having one of its members occupy a speaker or deputy speaker post. To keep his deputy speaker role and allow the party to lead the opposition, Padipat arranged his expulsion from the MFP.

Should the Constitutional Court dissolve the MFP, Padipat, as a former party executive, will be banned from politics. This scenario would result in him losing his MP status and the deputy speaker position.

The Election Commission (EC) brought the complaint to court, accusing the MFP of violating Section 92 of the organic law on political parties.

Citing a court ruling from January 31, the EC pointed to the party’s attempts to amend Section 112 of the Criminal Code, the lese-majeste law, arguing it demonstrated an intention to undermine the constitutional monarchy.

Additionally, the EC requested the court to ban the MFP’s executives from future elections and prohibit them from registering or serving as executives of a new party for a decade.

Speculation is rife that Bhumjaithai, the second-largest coalition party, is positioning itself to claim the deputy House speaker’s post if it becomes vacant.

House speaker void

Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul remarked that any move to fill the post should adhere to regulations and political etiquette.

Anutin highlighted that the roles of the House speaker and the first deputy had been predetermined last year before the formation of the government, a move he considered unusual.

The Bhumjaithai leader referred to an agreement between the MFP and the Pheu Thai Party, which was made when they decided to form a government together after the General Election. Although the MFP failed to form a coalition government with Pheu Thai, it managed to secure the deputy speaker position for Padipat. Pheu Thai proceeded to form a government with other parties.

House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, a former leader of the Prachachat Party, was nominated for his current role to resolve an impasse between Pheu Thai and the MFP, which was granted the first deputy speaker role, reported Bangkok Post.

Anutin refrained from commenting on speculation that Bhumjaithai MP Paradorn Prissanananthakul might be nominated for the role.

“Now things are back to normal, Bhumjaithai will have to [vie for the post] in the event [the MFP is disbanded]. But I’d like to give moral support to Padipat and hope things turn out fine for all.”