“Teng” confirms he will know by noon whether the People’s Party will field a candidate for the House Speaker position. He points out that the candidate must be accepted within the House and hints at having a timeline for a government no-confidence debate but is keeping it under wraps for now, while committing to fully performing opposition duties.
On 13 March 2026, Mr. Natthapong Rueangpanyawut, leader of the People’s Party, said in an interview about today’s MPs meeting that in the morning there would be discussions to decide the party’s official position on whether to nominate an MP for the House Speaker position. He expects a conclusion by noon. The afternoon session will focus on internal party processes.
Regarding nominating or proposing a person to serve as chair of the Opposition Parties Coordination Committee (Opposition Whip), discussions will also take place in the morning. He explained that the decision on who it will be could take any form.
“It depends on the MPs meeting resolution within the party. I acknowledge there may be consideration of risks related to legal cases involving 44 MPs, but more importantly, the candidate’s knowledge and capability are key. The nominee must be accepted by fellow People’s Party MPs and also by MPs from other parties.”
When asked whether the candidate for Opposition Whip must be a former MP, Mr. Natthapong said the party is quite open and it is not necessary to be a veteran MP. Currently, the list of nominees includes both types but fewer than ten people. He confirmed there will be clarity in the morning and a detailed announcement at noon.
Mr. Natthapong emphasized that today there must be a clear conclusion on whether the People’s Party will field a candidate for House Speaker or how they will vote, ahead of the House meeting on Sunday, 15 March. Meanwhile, discussions are ongoing about proposing nine bills to submit immediately when the parliamentary session opens and how to advance them.
Mr. Natthapong also spoke about vetting the qualifications of ministers in the new cabinet, saying data collection is ongoing. He confirmed the party is ready to fully perform opposition duties. Currently, there is discussion about the timeline for a no-confidence motion, assuming no change in government formation. The People’s Party is not trying to form a competing government and still upholds the principle that the largest party should lead government formation. However, there are talks about the appropriate timing to submit the no-confidence motion, though details remain confidential for now. He asked that internal party discussions reach clarity before communicating further.