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The opposition expects the censure debate to take place next
month and hopes it will bring down Prayuth's 17-party
government. It would be the last confidence vote Prayuth, 68,
will face before his term ends in March next year.
Prayuth, a retired general who first came to power in a 2014
coup, has weathered three previous confidence motions since a
2019 election that kept him in power.
"(He) is a leader that has a flawed thinking, likes to cling to
power, does not respect the rule of law, lacks morals and failed
in managing states affairs," Chonlanan Srikaew, the leader of
the opposition bloc, told the house.
Analysts say the government's parliamentary majority of 253
seats verses the opposition's 208 makes it likely Prayuth will
prevail.
Stithorn Thananithichot, director of the Office of Innovation
for Democracy at King Prajadhipok's Institute, said Prayuth
should survive as his coalition was still unified, while
political analyst Sukhum Nualsakul said the motion was aimed
more at next year's election than Prayuth's removal.
Others say the administration's popularity has been declining,
highlighted by last month Bangkok governor elections that saw
pro-government conservative candidates defeated by a former
opposition figure.
Government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said had
nothing to fear.
"The prime minister is ready to explain to parliament and
answers all issues raised by the opposition because the
government is confident that it ran the country honestly without
corruption that occurred in past governments," Thanakorn said.
(Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing
by Martin Petty)
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