At least seven ministers will be grilled in the upcoming censure debate and more may be added to the list later as the opposition continues gathering information, key Pheu Thai Party members said yesterday.
Phumtham Wechayachai, an adviser to opposition leader Sompong Amornwiwat, said leaders of the seven opposition parties had discussed the censure debate target list and the number so far stands at seven, including Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. He also hinted that more cabinet members may be included by Jan 29, the date the opposition is scheduled to submit the no-confidence motion to the parliament president.
"The list of cabinet ministers to be censured may rise above seven. We have until Jan 29 to decide," he said.
Chalerm Ubumrung, head of the Pheu Thai Party's special operations committee, said earlier that the five ministers to most likely face grilling include Gen Prayut, his deputies Wissanu Krea-ngam and Somkid Jatusripitak, Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda and Foreign Affairs Minister Don Pramudwinai. It is reported that Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwon and Saksayam Chidchob may be the two added to the censure list.
Chief opposition whip Sutin Klungsang also said the list of ministers to be grilled may grow based on the information available.
Mr Chalerm, meanwhile, dismissed reports that he had made a deal with the government to spare some ministers from censure. He said his panel had been set up to review information and make recommendations to Mr Sompong, who is also Pheu Thai leader, as to who should be grilled.
"There is no deal. And I have no idea who are targeted by the other [opposition] parties," he said.
According to Mr Chalerm, his panel named the five original ministers for the no-confidence motion as it has enough information against them.