NLA chief confident legislative process won’t derail November poll plan

By The Nation

 

National Legislative Assembly (NLA) president Pornptech Wichitcholchai

 

National Legislative Assembly (NLA) president Pornptech Wichitcholchai on Tuesday said he believed that the general election scheduled for November would go ahead as planned.

 

Matters concerning the legislative process were going smoothly, he said, adding that he did not however know about other factors and could not possibly make any assessment of such matters.

 

Although some critics believe the NLA will shoot down the MP and Senate organic bills, both of which need to be passed and promulgated prior to the holding of an election, Pornpetch expressed confidence that such a scenario would not arise. 

 

It would take more than two-thirds of the NLA members to vote the bills down, he stressed.

 

In order to gain that such a large majority, the assembly chief said there would have to be an intensive process of lobbying and signalling. 

 

Assuming, as he did, that nothing of that sort got in the way of the crucial organic legislation, the national election should then take place within 150 days of the bills coming in effect as stipulated by the Constitution, which would enable it to be held in November, he added.

 

If, however, the legislative timetable were to be extended, an amendment to the Constitution would be needed, the NLA president said. 

 

It would not be possible to use the absolute power given to the prime minister under Article 44 of the interim charter to achieve this, because the 2016 Constitution had laid out a clear procedure that included conducting a referendum, he emphasised.

 

“I don’t see any signs to abort the organic bills now. But if you [the media] do, please let me know,” Pornpetch said. “But if they really were going to be shot down, it wouldn’t be a secret. It wouldn’t be easy to hide.”

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30335222

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-1-2

There will not be a coup! !

As speculated in another newspaper; the coronation will take place just when the poll was scheduled and voila: another delay.

 

That is if they cant find a box of pre-ww1 weapons somewhere in the middle of a rice field.

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

It would not be possible to use the absolute power given to the prime minister under Article 44 of the interim charter to achieve this, because the 2016 Constitution had laid out a clear procedure that included conducting a referendum

Why this continued falsehood that the current Constitution (as with all past constitutions) can override actions by a junta regime?

In fact the endorsed 2017 Constitution (the 2016 constitution was an incomplete draft) recognizes the constitutional authority of Article 44 Orders as law of the land that can also supersede legislative and judicial actions. As it stands under the Prayut regime, there is no check & balance, no "opposition party" and no constraints against conflicts of interest.

The "legislative process" may not delay elections but there are other forces at play that might. Don't underestimate the capabilities of those who would be most effected by a change in the political hierarchy.