Opposition plans hot reception for government newboys

Some 70 opposition members will take the floor to offer criticism of the policies and give "invaluable lessons" to newly-appointed Cabinet members, including those lacking experience, Pheu Thai MP Witthaya Buranasiri said yesterday.

A highlight in the debate is expected to be the verbal match between two rivals, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban and opposition lawmaker Chalerm Yoobamrung.

Key members in the Somchai Wongsawat government to challenge their successors include Mingkwan Sangsuwan, Wicharn Meenchainant and Udomdet Rattanasathien.

Witthaya said the alloted floor time will be allocated among opposition members from Pheu Thai, Pracharaj parties and from those lawmakers in the splinter groups of two coalition parties, Puea Pandin and Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana.

A large number of opposition members want to grill greenhorn ministers, such as the commerce and foreign affairs portfolios, on the grounds they lack credibility to implement policies, he said.

He said Chalerm will assume the lead for the opposition although he has yet to decide whether to become the opposition leader.He also claimed the Abhisit Vejjajiva government had copied about 90 per cent of its policies from those championed by the previous administration.

The coalition whips decided to schedule the policy debate to last two days from Monday to Tuesday with an allotted 28 hours for speeches.

The prime minister will take about two hours to announce the policy statement. The lead opposition member is expected an equal time for rebuttal.

Cabinet members will be allocated a total of six hours for countering the opposition members. The senators will have seven hours of floor time.

Party leaders will not be bound by time constraints when making their speeches. Coalition and opposition members are obligated to agree among themselves on the line-up of speeches within the allotted time. Each side is expected to have about six hours.

After having lunch with ranking Democrats, including PM's Office Minister Satit Wongnongtaey, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva held a closed door meeting with Democrat MP Chinnaworn Boonyakiart to plan for the Monday's announcement of the government's policy statement.