Thai House Speaker Sophon Zarum Faces Scrutiny Over Legislative Delays in First 90 Days
The People's Party has issued a critical assessment of House Speaker Sophon Zarum's performance, citing significant delays in legislative work and a growing backlog of bills and motions. A PP MP highlighted that despite various parliamentary projects, the speaker appears focused on ceremonial duties and provincial development rather than advancing legislation. The evaluation raises questions about parliamentary efficiency as Thailand's legislative process faces mounting delays.
House Speaker Sophon Zarum is facing scrutiny from within his own party, the People's Party, over his handling of legislative work during his first 90 days in office. PP MP Bhuntin Noumjerm issued a formal evaluation on Tuesday, noting that no new bills have passed their first reading in the first 19 House meetings, and only 34 of 147 carried-over bills have advanced further. The assessment also highlighted that more than 30 motions concerning public grievances remain pending, with some state agency reports dating back to 2024 still awaiting consideration. Bhuntin criticized the speaker for appearing to prioritize ceremonial duties—such as organizing flag-raising ceremonies and volunteer cleaning activities—over legislative efficiency, and noted that the speaker frequently delegates chairing duties to deputy speakers and adjourns meetings at 6pm despite pending business. The MP proposed solutions including additional Friday House meetings and inclusion of legislation from MPs and civil society groups on the agenda.
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- Bangkok PostCenter
Speaker comes under scrutiny
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