The parliamentary session grew tense as the opposition threatened to count the quorum, angered by the Justice Minister's failure to attend and answer live questions on the Senate election rigging case. This escalated into a heated verbal clash between Sophon and Pakornwutth.
On 2 July 2026 at 14:30, the atmosphere in the House of Representatives became tense after MP Prit Wacharasindhu of the People’s Party expressed dissatisfaction with Police Lieutenant General Rutthaphon Naowarat, the Justice Minister, who did not attend to answer his live question regarding the Senate election rigging case. Prit accused Rutthaphon of deliberately avoiding the live question by citing official duties, effectively evading parliamentary scrutiny of the case.
After Prit finished speaking, Sophon Sarum, Speaker of the House and chairing the session, attempted to cut off debate and move to the next agenda item. This prompted MP Pakornwutth Udompipatsakul, also from the People’s Party, to criticize Sophon for doing nothing further, allowing the executive branch to trample on the legislature. Meanwhile, Prit proposed that next week’s parliamentary session include four live questions, including his own from this week.
During this, Satit Wongnongtoey, a Democrat Party list MP, tried to assist Prit’s explanation but was cut off by Sophon, who muted his microphone and ordered him to sit down. Pakornwutth protested, asking the Speaker to listen to Satit, stating that although the Speaker claimed to act according to parliamentary rules, he also had the right under other rules to count the quorum.
Sophon immediately replied that counting the quorum was indeed a right and that the public should know how the parliament is managed. He added that while he follows the rules, he is not obligated to please the parliament beyond that. Pakornwutth retorted angrily that the Speaker has no right to forbid protests, as members have the right to protest. Meanwhile, Romtham Khamnurak, a Bhumjaithai Party list MP and government whip, agreed to increase live questions for the opposition by one next week. Sophon argued that the rules allow three live questions per week and that one question would have to be cut, making next week’s questions all from the opposition. Pakornwutth countered that the rules could be waived to allow more than three live questions. This led to a back-and-forth with Sophon, who eventually ordered members to sit and reprimanded them not to cause disruption or behave improperly. He said the government’s offer of three live questions for the opposition was reasonable, questioning what more they wanted, then cut off debate and moved to the next agenda.