Rampool Tantiwanitchanon, a Thai Sang Thai party constituency MP from Ubon Ratchathani, became the first to receive a certificate confirming her election to parliament this morning (Tuesday), as MPs show up at the Election Commission’s (EC) office to receive theirs.
The new MP told the media that she wants to start working quickly, because many people in her constituency have no land of their own on which to make a living.
The EC announced the confirmation of 400 constituency MPs and 100 party-list MPs yesterday, following the May 14th general election. Nonetheless, the commission reserves the right to ask the Supreme Court to disqualify any MP against whom allegations of electoral cheating are substantiated.
MPs have until this Saturday to collect their certificates.
Move Forward secretary-general Chaithawat Tulathon said yesterday that he expects the House will meet from July 4th to 6th.
The House can only meet, however, after there is a Royal Command announcing the opening of a new parliamentary session. Traditionally, His Majesty the King will preside over the opening of the new parliament.
Meanwhile, it is reported that 89-year-old Pol Lt-Gen Viroj Paoin, a Pheu Thai party party-list MP, who is the most senior of all the MPs, will act as interim House speaker at the first meeting of the House of Representatives.
He will also chair the meeting for the selection of the House speaker, a contentious issue which is yet to be settled between the Move Forward and Pheu Thai parties.
A veteran politician, Pol Lt-Gen Viroj was deputy interior minister in the government of Gen Suchinda Kraprayoon and a deputy prime minister in the government of Chuan Leekpai in 2000.
