The Pheu Thai Party is confident Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will survive the forthcoming censure debate and vote, deputy party spokesman Jirayu Huangsap said yesterday.
The debate is scheduled for Nov 25-26, with a vote on the censure motion set for the following day.
Apart from Ms Yingluck, the no-confidence motion targets Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung, Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat and Deputy Interior Minister Chatt Kuldiloke.
Mr Jirayu said he believed the prime minister could respond to all questions put to her during the censure debate.
Ms Yingluck is expected to face tough grilling on her government's rice-pledging scheme, which the opposition says is fiscally irresponsible and prone to corruption.
The opposition's inquiries about the scheme would be addressed by Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom and Pol Capt Chalerm, he said.
Mr Boonsong is directly in charge of the scheme, while Mr Chalerm headed a probe into allegations of corruption involving it, Mr Jirayu said.
Democrat spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut yesterday said the party wants the debate to focus on specific allegations and hopes it will lead to a probe by the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
"This debate targets the prime minister. So [she should be] prepared and not even think of having someone else answer [her] questions for her," Mr Chavanond said.