Theng defended Ice’s sharing of a payment slip as simply an act of verification and expressed opposition to seeing the Prime Minister file lawsuits to silence critics, even though it is his right. Regarding the December 7-11 government interpellation, he said it would further solidify the information and criticized the government for needing better plans to handle new threats.
At 3:00 p.m. on 30 October 2026 at Thammasat University’s Rangsit campus, Nattapong Rueangpanyawut, leader of the People's Party, commented on the warning from 33 countries urging citizens to stockpile food and supplies. He said the most important thing is having clear plans. The government knows that the UK, Nordic countries, and Japan have advised people to prepare for a 72-hour timeframe, not only due to fears of world war but also new threats like environmental crises and disasters. He hopes to see government readiness and citizens knowing how to act during crises. However, he regrets that in disasters like floods, people continue to lose lives and property annually. He emphasized that while they do not expect a world war, better preparedness for new threats is crucial. He noted issues such as flooding and pollution, where often citizens must fend for themselves because state agencies rarely act effectively to protect lives and property. He believes citizens are ready now, but questions whether the government has adequate response plans and mechanisms. He stressed the need to communicate and raise Thailand’s standards to match other countries.
When asked about the Prime Minister’s comments that citizens often respond oppositely, Nattapong said this may reflect the public’s lack of trust in the Prime Minister. He said he cannot speak on behalf of the people regarding why they communicate this way.
He stated he does not want to see the Prime Minister use lawsuits to silence critics, even though it is within his rights.
Nattapong spoke about the Prime Minister’s legal action against Rakchanok Srinok, a party-list MP from the People's Party, over sharing a fake payment slip allegedly transferring money to the Prime Minister’s account from the page “godd dam.” He said the party’s legal team is already assisting and personally has no concerns. He added that politicians understand that being public figures invites criticism, and it is normal for the opposition to be scrutinized. Therefore, he does not want to see legal actions used as gag orders, even if it is the Prime Minister’s right. Asked about the previous Blue Regime’s frequent lawsuits against the opposition, Nattapong said this is why they have pushed for Anti-SLAPP legislation, which is currently under negotiation between the opposition and government whips to schedule its consideration.
He welcomed the extension of the interpellation period, saying it will make the information more comprehensive.
Nattapong also commented on the submission of a no-confidence general debate motion under Section 152 along with a no-confidence motion under Section 151. He said this is a legal channel and right the opposition can use, but whether or not they submit motions is less important than the government’s readiness to respond. He said they are waiting to see the government’s stance and opposition whip discussions. The latest agreement among the three whips set the interpellation for December 7-11. Asked if the December 7-11 extension disadvantages the opposition, he said it actually strengthens the interpellation by allowing more time for information gathering.
He declined to respond to the Prime Minister’s remarks, saying he prefers to leave judgment to the public.
When asked about the Prime Minister’s retort questioning who is truly unprepared regarding the interpellation schedule, Nattapong reiterated he has answered this multiple times. He said after the three-party whip talks failed to agree, the opposition requested a one-week postponement from the original schedule, but the opposition has been ready weekly. He added that if the Prime Minister could arrange to attend on weekends, the debate could still happen in November. Since it was agreed to hold it in early December, they will abide by that. He does not see this as a back-and-forth about readiness since the opposition has always been prepared. When pressed about the Prime Minister’s remarks accusing the opposition of mudslinging while praising himself, Nattapong said he saw the Prime Minister’s interview but chose not to respond because it lacked substantive communication. He said ultimately, it is the public who judge politicians by following the Prime Minister’s statements.
He plans to push forward Anti-SLAPP legislation.
Nattapong added that in the month leading up to the no-confidence debate, the opposition intends to advance several key legislative issues in parliament. Negotiations between the two whips may aim to prioritize important bills, such as the Anti-SLAPP legislation and others. He also highlighted the significance of the 2028 budget, which will be the first year the Budget Bureau implements a pre-budget consultation process allowing public input before drafting the budget or submitting motions in parliament for government consideration. He hopes the parliamentary speaker will schedule motions to coincide with this consultation, which is set for 5 November.