“Abhisit” Slams Govt for Devaluing No-Confidence Debate, Insists Opposition Needs 5 Days to Grill 18 Ministers, Retorts Anutin “Can Only Think This Much” Over Sirichok’s Gambling Site Allegations

Today (21 October 2026) at 1:00 PM, Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the Democrat Party, spoke regarding the timeframe for the no-confidence debate after the Prime Minister indicated that the government would be convenient for the debate on Oct 27–30, 2026, due to upcoming overseas official duties. Abhisit stated that the starting point of a no-confidence debate is an opposition motion whose details have already been submitted to the House Speaker, targeting a total of 18 ministers. Following discussions among opposition parties, it was agreed that approximately 5 days would be required to thoroughly cover all substantive matters.

Abhisit added that the no-confidence debate is not a matter where the government can simply dictate when or how much it is convenient to respond. If the goal is a smooth process, the 3-party whip meeting will discuss and present potential solutions. The government side will likely inquire about the necessity of the requested timeframe, and opposition representatives are fully prepared to explain why 5 days are needed. Regarding the Prime Minister’s schedule, it is not as though he will be continuously unavailable, so proper time management and scheduling are entirely feasible and not overly difficult.

Regarding the idea of increasing time for the opposition while reducing clarification time for ministers, Abhisit stated that it should not be done that way, questioning why the government would want to reduce its own ministers’ time to explain. He urged the Prime Minister to reconsider, noting that the Prime Minister has appeared to devalue the parliamentary scrutiny process from the very beginning, treating it as a mere ritual to get over with. He emphasized that this is a vital mechanism for scrutiny in a democratic system. The speaking side aims to present information fully and expects answers, while wanting all MPs from both sides to hear both speakers and responders thoroughly in order to decide whether these 18 ministers deserve confidence to remain in office. If such democratic processes are respected, time management will not be an issue, adding that he himself has served as Prime Minister before.

When pressed on the Prime Minister’s scheduled overseas trip during Oct 31 – Nov 1, 2026, Abhisit stated that if it is not convenient, it can be arranged for a later date. If there are important prior appointments such as the APEC summit, the opposition understands and would not press the Prime Minister to miss it. However, he remains confident that time can be managed to allow Parliament 1 full week for thorough government scrutiny as intended. When asked further whether the opposition would wait for a convenient time if the timeframe truly cannot be aligned, Abhisit reaffirmed that it can certainly be done if the government is willing to grant the time.

Addressing tensions surrounding time calculations, Abhisit noted that the opposition will discuss the matter with reason, calculating time based on the 18 ministers, the number of speakers, and the required minutes and hours. If the government insists that ministers do not need to answer and only need to raise their hands to vote, it would further confirm that the current administration does not respect parliamentary operations and views everything merely as a ritual.

Regarding rumors of a potential merger between the Bhumjaithai Party and the Kla Dharma Party following the censure debate, Abhisit stated that he was unaware of the details as he belongs to neither party, noting that rumors of party mergers or shifting alliances emerge daily. As for the Democrat Party, it remains committed to fulfilling its duty as the opposition to inspect the government. The Democrat Party plans to primarily debate around 4–5 main ministers, while the People’s Party possesses information covering all 18 ministers; thus, the opposition should be granted full time to work.

Regarding the legal feasibility of merging parties, the intent of the constitution does not directly support party mergers, with politicians often opting to be expelled from a party to join a new one instead. He added that this question should be directed to Bhumjaithai and Kla Dharma regarding their underlying reasons.

Additionally, when asked about Sirichok Sopha, former Democrat Party MP, raising allegations regarding an online gambling site case involving Suchada Sang-thanasup, Bhumjaithai MP for Chaiyaphum, Abhisit stated that they had spoken and Sirichok was interested in the matter and ready to cooperate with investigations. Sirichok had already provided information to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) ahead of schedule and was set to present details to the House Committee on Law tomorrow. Although Sirichok is no longer an MP and cannot debate in Parliament, the party continues to monitor these details closely.

When asked about Anutin Charnvirakul’s remark suggesting Sirichok exposed the case out of bitterness over losing the election, Abhisit concluded by stating, “He can only think this much.”

Photo : Weeraphat Ratsameerueangrong