“Abhisit” Slams Government for Squeezing Oversight Mechanisms, Blasts Spyware Surveillance, Jabs “If You Want Cat Photos, Just Ask Nicely”

Today (4 November 2026) at 1:00 PM at Parliament, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, Leader of the Opposition, alongside opposition parties, Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the Democrat Party, Wasawat Poungpromsri, leader of the Thai Ruam Phalang Party, and chairs of the House of Representatives Standing Committees representing the People’s Party and Democrat Party, held a joint press conference addressing operational obstacles and interference from the executive branch and the parliamentary majority.

Abhisit Vejjajiva elaborated on the Opposition Leader’s remarks, stating that as a former long-serving Opposition Leader, he well understands that opposition scrutiny in every era faces obstacles because most governments dislike being inspected, even though checks and balances are a vital component of democracy.

Furthermore, he pointed out that recent developments—ranging from the issuance of a circular letter regarding guidelines for committee practices to parallel efforts by Bhumjaithai Party MPs to amend House rules of procedure—will inflict even severe consequences. This is due to attempts to use majority votes for domination, which could escalate to proposing the dissolution of standing committees.

“There are proposals to change the selection of committee chairs—which was originally agreed upon based on the proportion of MPs in the House—to a majority vote decision. This reflects a continuous attempt to make the legislative branch’s scrutiny mechanism increasingly difficult, if not virtually impossible, to function,” Abhisit said.

Abhisit also compared the situation to parliamentary systems worldwide, where the executive branch holds the majority. However, under international standards, caution is exercised and a political culture of mutual respect for each side’s role is cultivated, rather than relying solely on majority rule. Regarding the circular letter, he understood that the House Speaker had previously convened a meeting with the chairs of all 35 standing committees and the legal team.

He therefore suggested that the House Speaker call another meeting to reach a consensus on practical, realistic guidelines. For instance, regarding how a committee chair places items on the agenda, this could be handled through consultation and notifying the meeting; if anyone wishes to object or raise observations, they may do so without requiring a formal vote. This would be a fair approach for all sides, and he urged the Speaker to reconsider and adopt this method.

At the same time, he sent a signal to the Bhumjaithai Party in its capacity as the House Speaker’s party that any rule amendments should take into account the dignity and duty of the legislative branch. He also addressed interference in the judicial process and legal cases, citing the example of Karndee Leopairote, who was sued by a private company despite never mentioning its name, describing it as unnatural for a private business.

“Using legal rights to act inimically toward political figures is problematic. I would like to leave this with the Supreme Court, urging the President of the Supreme Court to bring recommendations regarding anti-SLAPP lawsuits into concrete practice across various cases,” Abhisit stated.

Regarding cyber harassment and data breaches, Abhisit stated that those working in the opposition are naturally cautious and confirmed he remains undeterred. However, he stressed that such actions must not originate from state actors, as that would constitute a violation of individual rights by the government. He added lightheartedly, “If you want good photos of cats, you can just ask me—no need to hack in with spyware.”

Abhisit added that the warning he received clearly indicated he was targeted due to his professional role and career. Furthermore, the type of spyware cited as an example is sold exclusively to government entities at a very high cost. Having used an iPhone for a long time, he had never encountered such a notification, nor had almost anyone he knew. Therefore, the government’s attempt to explain it away as a common occurrence across many countries ignores the actual reality, as the warning speaks clearly for itself. What he demands is for the government to confirm that state agencies and security units are not involved in these actions.

Photo : Weeraphat Ratsameerueangrong