Sophon opened a seminar at the Thai Parliament, urging MPs to work in unity to pass laws quickly and compete with the executive branch, overcoming conflicts. He plans to design a form for MPs to submit complaints, reducing discussion and debate procedures, and aims to use the 2026 budget with a new approach focusing on solving public problems.
On 31 Mar 2026 at 08:50 GMT+7 at the Parliament, Sophon Sarum, President of the Parliament and Speaker of the House of Representatives, chaired a seminar to enhance understanding among elected MPs. Present were Ms. Mallika Jiraphanwanich, First Deputy Speaker, Mr. Lertsak Patanchayakul, Second Deputy Speaker, Mr. Yotsanan Wongsawat, party-list MP from the Pheu Thai Party, and the executive team of the Secretariat of the House of Representatives.
Sophon spoke on "Stories of the Thai Parliament," saying he wants this legislative body to be an institution trusted and relied upon by the public. He acknowledged this is difficult as no single person can achieve it alone; it requires unity among members. He urged MPs to remember their promises to the people and perform duties worthy of trust. Regardless of speaking skills or personalities, all 500 members should combine their experiences and declared commitments into a united effort to help the country overcome current crises. Having been in politics for 25 years, he has seen the parliament's evolution, noting criticism and loss of public trust due to unfulfilled democratic processes. Of the three branches—legislative, judiciary, and executive—the legislature alone is slow. He wants to change this into tangible results.
"I welcome all criticism to improve. We have a grand, dignified place, but it depends on how members act so the public sees their representatives fulfilling their duties fully," Sophon said.
Sophon added that driving the country forward cannot rely solely on the opposition. Amid global crises, the parliament must equip the executive branch with tools to address these issues—from consultations, question sessions, motions, to legislation. However, few laws have originated from parliament because it has yet to overcome government-opposition divides. He affirmed that he, along with the first and second deputy speakers, will work unitedly to set an example of trust. Given the global conflicts, cooperation from all sides is essential. He urged the public to face reality, understand political factions and supporters, but build a society of love and forgiveness, regardless of agreement. The era of heroes or knights in shining armor is over; everyone must cooperate.
Sophon hopes new members will bring vitality and strengthen this parliament. Since taking office, he has considered expanding channels for assisting the public by creating forms to save MPs' speaking time during debates, streamlining discussions. He also wants to reform the submission of motions, which often repeat unresolved issues; old information should be supplemented with current context. Whether forming special or standing committees, initial data should be used rather than starting anew. He called on all parties to cooperate for swift change, resisting social media trends to rebuild trust in the institution. He has reviewed the remaining budget through 30 Sep 2026 and plans to allocate funds in a new direction. To fully advance democracy, internal support must extend to youth.
"I urge all MPs to listen to the public’s views. If people want something, MPs should accept and address it. There must be accelerated integration between opposition and government to coordinate and agree on solving problems effectively for the people. Effective legislative management requires unity and trust to serve as a positive example for the public," the parliamentary president said.
