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 Opposition Leader Abhisit Vejjajiva and opposition chief whip Sathit Wongnongtoey yesterday called on the House of Representatives to debate a solution to the political crisis. He cited Army chief Anupong Paochinda's statement that it was Parliament's duty to end the crisis.

The House could not be in ignorance as to what was happening to the country outside the Parliament buildings, they said.

People Power Party MPs as well as the House Speaker Chai Chidchob opposed the idea, insisting that passing the Budget Bill as scheduled had equal importance.

Parliament needs discipline and should discuss what was on the schedule first, the PPP MPs said.

The House Speaker finally ended the argument and let the House go on with the second and third readings of the Budget Bill for the fiscal year 2009.

After more than three months of street protests by the People's Alliance for Democracy, over a week of the PAD's siege of Government House, the House-Senate joint session on Sunday and the government's declaration of a state of emergency, no resolution has been reached.

With the fact that Election Commission has decided to file a party-dissolution case against the PPP with the Constitution Court, Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej remains inert, without any indication of his resignation or a dissolution of the House. Meanwhile, coalition parties do not dare leave the government.

The Puea Pandin Party leader has advocated that the coalition parties withdraw, but after a party meeting yesterday, Puea Pandin eventually decided to continue its support for the government.

Chart Thai leader Banharn Silapa-archa has ordered his members to keep their eyes open as the party is waiting for the appropriate time to make a decision.

It is important to government MPs that the Budget Bill is passed before the government coalition makes any move.

Allocating the budget is one of the most important missions for the government. It allows the administration to use public money to work and accomplish the projects its politicians initiated or promised voters.

The projects include water-development projects in the Northeast, highway construction and maintenance, mass-transit projects, information and communications technology infrastructure projects, the leasing of 4,000 NGV buses for the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority, and buildings and toilet construction and repair for schools nationwide.

Yesterday, Bt4 billion was set aside for the construction of the new Parliament building. As a good deal of money has been passed, the budget should make Chai happy as he announced he was pushing for the project on the day he took the position.

As well, Bt150 million was set aside for construction of state-provided quarters for the Forest Industry Organisation of Thailand.

Government MPs must take this chance to collect assets before getting into the next battle arena - an election.

The Senate will have 20 days to approve or disapprove the bill, without any amendment. It is scheduled to debate the bill on September 15 and 16. Then the bill will be sent for royal endorsement on September 23.

Thais might have to wait until that day before Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej decides whether to resign or dissolve the House. They must pray no violence or further damage to the country happens in the meantime.