House Speaker Sophon Zarum has defended his handling of parliamentary scrutiny over the government's 400-billion-baht emergency loan decree, insisting he acted in accordance with parliamentary procedures.
Speaking in Buri Ram on Monday, Mr Sophon said a petition concerning the emergency decree had already been forwarded to the Constitutional Court for consideration in line with his duties and authority.
He denied accusations that he was shielding the government, saying decisions regarding parliamentary motions were made through established procedures rather than personal discretion.
The controversy centres on the opposition's attempt to submit an urgent motion seeking the establishment of a special parliamentary committee to investigate the government's issuance of the 400-billion-baht emergency borrowing decree.
Mr Sophon explained that whether a motion qualifies as urgent is determined by a parliamentary committee chaired by a deputy House speaker, not by the speaker himself.
"I did not interfere in the process," he said. "I simply clarified the committee's conclusion that this was not considered an urgent motion, and the matter proceeded according to parliamentary procedures."
He added that the proposal, although classified as a general motion, could still be moved up the parliamentary agenda if both the government and opposition agreed.
Meanwhile, the government is preparing its defence for the Constitutional Court after the court on May 18 accepted a petition from 133 opposition MPs seeking a ruling on the legality of the 400-billion-baht borrowing decree.
Government House sources said the Secretariat of the Cabinet had been instructed to coordinate with the Finance Ministry, the Budget Bureau, the National Economic and Social Development Council and the Council of State to prepare the government's response.
