Former Thai PM confident casino bill will move forward
Thaksin Shinawatra expects the bill to pass its first reading in the next parliamentary session.
Thailand.- Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has said he is confident that the bill to legalise casino resorts in Thailand will “easily” pass its first reading in the House of Representatives. The bill was expected to be debated in Parliament on April 9 but the debate was postponed due to the issues of US tariffs and last month’s earthquake. It will be reintroduced in the next parliamentary session in two months’ time.
Shinawatra said there had been differing views but insisted these were not severe enough to threaten the bill’s progress. defended the bill. Reiterating the opinion of his daughter, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, he said certain groups were spreading misinformation about the proposed legislation.
Bhumjaithai Party secretary-general Chaichanok Chidchob had told a parliamentary debate that he would reject the bill, but Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul said Chaichanok was making personal comments and had not received prior authorisation to speak on behalf of the party.
A group of anti-casino advocates rallied outside Parliament last Wednesday (April 9) to urge the government to withdraw the bill. Archbishop Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana has also submitted a petition against the bill.
