The Bhumjaithai Party will not vote to send MP Chonnaphat to the DSI, explaining that he wishes to undergo questioning himself. They suggest he can go directly without burdening Parliament with a vote, denying any protection. They note that if he does not go today, he must attend after the session ends.
26 May 2026 GMT+7 Ms. Nan Boonthida Somchai, spokesperson for the Bhumjaithai Party, issued a statement on the party MPs' meeting regarding the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) sending a letter to request MP Chonnaphat Naksua from Songkhla, of the Kla Tham Party, to investigate an online gambling case. The House of Representatives has scheduled an urgent agenda to request parliamentary permission on 28 May 2025, stating that initially, it is known that the MP posted expressing a wish to give testimony as requested by the DSI letter. The Bhumjaithai Party believes that if he wishes to give testimony, he can go tomorrow morning to avoid burdening Parliament.
The Bhumjaithai Party spokesperson further explained that, as a matter of principle in protecting MPs during parliamentary sessions, there has been a tradition of safeguarding members due to the narrow majority held by both government and opposition sides. This is to prevent abuse of power that could reduce one side's votes. This principle has been applied from the past until now. The Bhumjaithai Party has discussed applying this principle but must wait to see if the MP requests it. Comparing to the previous parliamentary session, there was approval for an MP to enter the justice process, but the House did not consider it because that MP surrendered voluntarily.
Therefore, the current House hopes no vote will be necessary if the MP willingly goes as planned. If a vote is required, the session will close in about one and a half months, so whether tomorrow or then, the MP must attend questioning as requested by the DSI. Thus, the timing condition can be viewed differently: some matters are not decisions but invitations to investigate. Otherwise, it might seem the authorities are persecuting the opposition to reduce their votes, which is untrue. It is a matter for the agency, and the Bhumjaithai Party has no intention of reducing any side's votes by MPs' own voting.
When asked if Bhumjaithai would vote to send Chonnaphat, Ms. Nan Boonthida said, it depends on Chonnaphat himself. If he goes to testify personally and informs Parliament, the matter ends with no vote. If it comes to a parliamentary discussion, they will see his position. As a government party, they do not want to reduce either side's votes this way.
Ms. Nan Boonthida added that after the parliamentary session closes, the MP must go to give testimony and cannot avoid what will happen. She emphasized that MPs' privileges apply only during sessions, not the full four-year term, to protect the legislative vote balance and prevent any side from weakening the other to gain majority.
Regarding whether Bhumjaithai is protecting or shielding Chonnaphat, Ms. Nan Boonthida stressed they are not helping or shielding anyone. She clarified that MPs' privileges only apply during parliamentary sessions. Since sessions last only about four months when laws are considered, after sessions close, MPs must address pending issues and cannot claim privileges during recess.