Time constraint is not real reason : Abhisit

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said there is enough time for the general debate as requested by the Senate in the current parliamentary session, although it is up to the government whether to allow a checksandbalance system or avoid scrutinise.

"The House Speaker or the government must make it clear. I don't see any reason why the Senate cannot exercise its rights. I assure you there is enough time available. The motion might be proposed tomorrow or the next day.

Verifying signatures would need only a few days, then the Parliament can inform the government. The government would be ready to clarify, maybe after the national budget deliberation. Why not? It was the government's resolution for the session to end on June 30," he said.

Although they had not decided on whether to submit a motion for a censure debate, the Democrats will Tuesday discuss the details in scrutinising the government. The speakers are ready as they are mostly members of the Shadow Cabinet who have followed the government's work in each ministry, Abhisit said.

PM's Office Minister Choosak Sirinin said Monday, "The government has only worked for four months, so it is deemed inappropriate for a censure debate."

Choosak said the opposition should allow more time before grilling the government because its planned motion will not seek to impeach censured Cabinet members.

"Without activating the impeachment proceedings, this means the censure is not about corruption, hence there is no urgency for grilling," he said.

He said the House already had an urgent task to deliberate the Budget Bill and might not have time to left for censuring the government.

Choosak suggested the Democrat Party check on the government's performance while debating the budget in lieu of a full censure.

He said the extraordinary session was reserved for the budgetary deliberation, arguing there was no justification for the Democrats to push for casting a vote of no confidence at this juncture.

Under normal circumstances, the government is entitled to 15 days to prepare for the grilling, he said, adding he expected the House Speaker to consult the government's readiness before putting the censure motion on the House agenda.

He pleaded for the opposition to review its push for censure on grounds the government came into power when social divisions were already strained and needed time to heal the rift.

With the government determined not to extend the session to accommodate the censure, coalition chief whip Samart Kaewmeechai said the opposition will have to muster the support of 207 MPs to convene an extra session for grilling.

The opposition presently has 164 votes.

Samart insisted the extraordinary session was designed solely to deliberate on four organic laws and the budgetary allocations.

The session will not have time for other issues, including the debate whether to form a special committee to review the Constitution, he said.