Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha is set to face a no-confidence vote this week as opposition lawmakers target his government for its alleged mismanagement of the COVID-19 outbreak amid a renewed push by pro-democracy activists for the premier’s ouster and monarchy reforms.
The opposition began grilling Prayut and nine of his Cabinet members as a four-day debate got under way that will culminate with a vote likely on Saturday. While the government is expected to survive the vote like it did a year ago, the debate may determine the future of some of the ministers as parties begin shifting focus to 2023 general elections, according to Punchada Sirivunnabood, an expert in Thai politics and an associate professor at Mahidol University near Bangkok.
"The government has enough lawmakers to be in a safe position, but what’s more important is what’s being said in parliament and how they’re voted,” Punchada said, adding that ministers who received fewer votes from the ruling coalition will likely be replaced in the coming months. "Political parties from both sides will use this opportunity to show the work they’ve done to their support base, and some opposition members will use it to attack the government similar to what’s going on in the streets.”