Thailand’s House collapses for 21st time over lack of quorum

Regulations require at least 238 participants for a House meeting to go ahead.
The meeting had been convened to deliberate the results of a study by a House committee on the land, natural resources and environment in Krabi’s famous Maya Bay, which is now closed to tourists.
Pheu Thai MP Pichet Chuamuangpan suggested that the study’s approval be put up for a vote once lawmakers had finished debating on it. However, his proposal was dismissed by fellow opposition MPs from the Move Forward Party, who said voting with a lack of quorum would waste the panel’s work.
Deputy House Speaker Suchart Tancharoen, who was chairing the meeting, agreed and called a quorum count.

MP Krumanit Sangphum from Pheu Thai put the lack of quorum down to provincial MPs flying back to their strongholds to woo their constituents for votes now that the general election is approaching.
The next general election has been tentatively set for May next year.
“It’s not that they are lazy. They just have to leave early to catch flights as they are afraid of losing the next election. Also, they don’t know when this House will be dissolved,” the opposition MP said.
He suggested that no House meetings be called on Fridays as this was the final session of the current House.
Someone in the chamber agreed, shouting “flights are full and it’s difficult to travel”.
Suchart adjourned the meeting 20 minutes later after the call for quorum revealed only 183 MPs were present.
This is the 21st meeting to collapse due to a lack of quorum since this House of Representatives convened for the first time in April 2019.