NLA petitions court after nod from Prayut on MP election bill

NLA petitions court after nod from Prayut on MP election bill

By THE NATION

National Legislative Assembly

THE NATIONAL Legislative Assembly (NLA) yesterday submitted the organic bill on the election of MPs to the Constitutional Court for a ruling on its constitutionality.

NLA President Pornpetch Wichitcholchai said yesterday the order had come from Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Monday.

In a letter to the NLA, Prayut said he agreed on the need to seek a court ruling on the two controversial issues – deprival of rights to non-voters and assistance for disabled voters in polling booths, Pornpetch said.

Meanwhile, Prayut said yesterday that because many people were worried about the bill, he agreed on the need to check its legality so that no issues emerged later.

“Everyone is doing everything they can to make sure the election won’t encounter any problems. [We are] working closely together. We don’t want any impact on the road map,” Prayut said.

The petition has been endorsed by 27 legislators as required by the Constitution.

Pornpetch said he had also pleaded with the court to speed up deliberations on the petition, as it could affect the holding of the general election now tentatively set for February next year.

The development comes after neither the NLA nor the PM seemed interested in approaching the court, as such a move would have drawn much criticism. Politicians and critics were already criticising this as another conspiracy to derail the election road map.

The MP election bill was also controversial after the NLA called for a delay in its enforcement for three months after promulgation. The Constitution states that only after the four organic laws necessary for the election come into effect can an election take place within 150 days.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30342406

 

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