House Speaker loses temper

"The nomination should have been made after consulting the prospective candidate, otherwise it is a waste of time with interference from the unwelcome candidacy," Chai said, opting for the rude word, "suek", in place of interference.

He was reprimanding MP Phitsanu Hatthasongkroh for nominating fellow MP Jumpot Boonyai, who declined to sit on the panel. Phitsanu and Jumpot are both from the ruling People Power Party.

Chai appeared to be in a foul mood from the very start of the session, and had to press the buzzer six times for MPs to enter the chamber. Then he made several checks for attendance before declare a quorum of 236 MPs, which allowed him to proceed with the legislative deliberation.

Speaking outside the chamber, Democrat MP Thepthai Senpong said opposition and coalition lawmakers were so shocked by Chai's rudeness that none had remembered to move a motion to strike out the expletive from the House minutes.

Thepthai voiced concerns over the tarnished reputation of the House, saying that Chai had failed as a role model for the 250 students from Chanthaburi sitting in the visitors' gallery.