#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40021659

Ruling coalition rallies to narrowly kill Move Forward’s liquor production bill in third reading

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 02, 2022

The ruling coalition on Wednesday killed the opposition Move Forward Party’s progressive liquor bill in a 196-194 vote in Parliament on Wednesday.

The termination of the bill proposed by the Move Forward came just a day after the Cabinet approved a ministerial regulation to ease controls on alcohol production, seen as a move to pre-empt the passage of the opposition bill.

The voting in the third reading was held at 2.45pm after three hours of deliberation of the bill in the second reading.

The vote results showed that 177 MPs voted against it while 174 voted for it and 11 abstained.

After the vote results were known, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut (Move Forward-Bangkok) asked the chairperson of the meeting, deputy House speaker Suchart Tancharoen, to hold roll-call voting.

Natthaphong reasoned that a House regulation stated that if the margin of votes was fewer than 25 votes, roll-call voting would be needed to confirm the results.

Following a brief dispute, Suchart ordered roll-call voting.

Following long disputes and the vote count, Suchart announced the roll-call voting results at 5.15pm, which found that 194 MPs had voted for the bill while 196 MPs had voted against it and 15 had abstained.

Ahead of the roll-call, Move Forward posted on its Facebook wall, urging the public to monitor the voting as it was unfolding to see who had voted against the liberal bill.

The bill, which has seven sections, sought to terminate existing regulations that are seen as major obstacles to liquor making.

Before the vote, Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat said the current requirements, such as the need to produce 30,000 litres of liquor a day and the requirement for makers to become legal entities, stand in the way of capable but low-budget liquor-makers.

On Tuesday, Move Forward MP Taopiphop Limjittrakorn had accused the government of trying to derail the bill, which would have reduced barriers to allow small brewers to enter a market currently dominated by two giant companies.

Related stories:

Cabinet passes ‘half measure’ in bid to sink progressive liquor bill

Move Forward’s Pita thanks Bangkok for support, vows to work hard for votes