Govt Spokesperson Defends PM's Absence from Live Questioning; Ministers Can Explain

Khaosod•Politics•78d ago

Reader Briefing

Government spokesperson clarifies Prime Minister's absence from parliamentary questioning, stating it was due to pre-scheduled missions and that responsible ministers are equipped to provide clear answers.

•The Prime Minister's absence from live parliamentary questioning on April 30, 2026, was due to pre-existing missions.
•Instead of the PM, responsible ministers were assigned to answer questions on behalf of the Prime Minister.
•The Minister of Transport was designated to answer questions regarding the Land Bridge project.
•The government spokesperson emphasized that assigning ministers to answer questions allows for more detailed and comprehensive information.

Overview

•Government Spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek stated that the Prime Minister was not avoiding live questioning due to prior commitments.
•On April 30, 2026, the Prime Minister did not attend the live questioning session at the House of Representatives.
•Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, was assigned to answer questions regarding the Land Bridge project.
•Deputy Prime Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn was unable to attend the session due to a prior engagement at the Rail Transport Committee Meeting 1/2026.
•The Rail Transport Committee Meeting was a significant agenda item following the enforcement of the Rail Transport Act B.E. 2025 on March 27.
•Deputy Minister of Transport, Siripong Angkasakulkiat, was appointed to clarify matters to the Parliament in place of the Deputy Prime Minister.
•The Prime Minister had other scheduled tasks including a Police Committee meeting, an economic team meeting, and a press conference on transnational crime.
•The government spokesperson asserted that assigning the responsible minister to answer questions provides more detailed information and does not constitute avoiding the session.

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Key Quotes

N. Rutchada Thanadirek

"Do not interpret the assignment of the responsible minister to answer in place of the PM as avoiding the question; if looking at the goal of providing detailed information, the responsible minister will provide complete information."

ขออย่าตีความว่าการมอบหมายให้เจ้ากระทรวงที่รับผิดชอบงานไปตอบแทนเป็นการเลี่ยงตอบกระทู้ หากมองถึงเป้าหมายเพื่อการให้ข้อมูลที่ละเอียด รัฐมนตรีผู้รับผิดชอบ จะให้ข้อมูลได้ครบถ้วนเต็มที่

Key Entities

Organization

Government Spokesperson(โฆษกรัฐบาล)

Official representative of the Thai government providing information and clarifications in response to public and parliamentary inquiries.

House of Representatives(สภาผู้แทนราษฎร)

The lower house of the National Assembly of Thailand, where parliamentary questions are posed.

Person

Prime Minister(นายกฯ)

Head of the Thai government, who was absent from a parliamentary questioning session due to prior commitments.

Ratchada Thanadirek(น.ส.รัชดา ธนาดิเรก)

Spokesperson for the Office of the Prime Minister, who clarified the reasons for the Prime Minister's absence from parliamentary questioning.

Pipat Ratchakitprakarn(นายพิพัฒน์ รัชกิจประการ)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, who was assigned to answer questions related to the Land Bridge Project.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport(รองนายกรัฐมนตรีและรมว.คมนาคม)

The cabinet position held by Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, responsible for matters concerning transportation in Thailand.

Siripong Angkasakulkiat(นายสิริพงศ์ อังคสกุลเกียรติ)

Deputy Minister of Transport, who was assigned to clarify matters to the parliament in place of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Deputy Minister of Transport(รมช.มนาคม)

The cabinet position held by Siripong Angkasakulkiat, assisting the Minister of Transport.

Law

Rail Transport Act B.E. 2025(พระราชบัญญัติการขนส่งทางราง พ.ศ. 2025)

A law governing rail transport in Thailand, which recently came into effect.