31 MPs quit House, threatening stability

31 MPs quit House, threatening stability

Thirty-one MPs, most from the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), have officially resigned from the House of Representatives, fuelling fears the void could cripple the work of the Lower House.

Parliament president Chuan Leekpai informed the House meeting yesterday of two resignations -- that of Democrat Party MP for Ubon Ratchathani, Nan Boonthida, and the Seri Ruam Thai Party MP for Lampang, Detthawee Sriwichai.

Ms Nan's resignation took effect on Tuesday and Mr Detthawee's yesterday. With the two resignations, the House is left with 471 MPs, with the quorum to be met at meetings requiring a vote of at least 236 MPs.

However, at least 29 other MPs from various parties have also tendered their resignation letters, although their resignations have not been announced by parliament, a source at parliament said. That would take the total left to 442 MPs, which could disrupt the function of the House.

Earlier, Mr Chuan said it was hard to predict when the House would be dissolved, if at all, before the MPs' four-year term expires on March 23. He admitted he was unsure how the political situation would unfold.

If the House is not dissolved before their terms end on March 23, MPs have until Feb 7 to move to another party.

Some MPs who quit the House are defecting to the Bhumjaithai Party, which is holding an assembly tomorrow to unveil its potential candidates for the next election scheduled for May 7.

Of the MPs who have quit, 11 are from the PPRP, seven from the main opposition Pheu Thai Party, five from the Move Forward Party, two from the New Economics Party, and one each from the Chartpattanakla, Pracha Piwat, Puea Chat, Ruam Palang, Seri Ruam Thai and Democrat parties.

Suchart Usaha, a PPRP MP for Phetchaburi, said at least eight MPs from the faction in the ruling party representing the western provinces would be stepping down as members of the PPRP. After that, they will apply for membership with Bhumjaithai.

One reason is that the constituencies they were looking to contest in the poll overlap with those of former PPRP members who have now defected to the United Thai Nation Party.

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