Thailand: Opposition walks out to protest attempt to recount votes

• The opposition staged a walkout on Wednesday to protest against the government camp’s attempt to recount the votes in Parliament after a shock defeat.
• All opposition MPs left the chamber following the decision by House Speaker Chuan Leekpai to order a recount after the government bench lost a vote to set up a committee to study the impact of the use of Section 44 by the now-defunct National Council for Peace and Order.
• The opposition edged the ruling camp by four votes — 234-230 — on the motion to set up a panel to scrutinise Section 44. Two MPs decided to abstain and one did not vote.
• Government chief whip Wirat Rattanaset proposed to the House speaker that the ballots be recounted due to the close call but his opposition counterpart, Sutin Klansaeng, strongly opposed the move.
• The opposition decided to leave the floor after Mr Chuan decided to recount the vote, leaving Parliament short of the 250 MPs needed to start the procedure.
• Pichet Chueamuangphan, a Chiang Rai MP for the Pheu Thai Party, asked Mr Chuan to count the members in the chamber and found only 92 MPs in the lower house.
• Mr Chuan adjourned the meeting until Thursday.

External Link : https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/1803494/opposition-walks-out-to-protest-attempt-to-recount-votes