Prayut okays charter change, ending Senate’s power to vote for PM

By The Nation

 

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha gave the green light to amending the Constitution on Wednesday, as Parliament’s two-day special debate on the political crisis wrapped up.

 

Prayut said he agreed with many of the points made by MPs about the crisis, but said the main thing was to support charter amendment.

 

However, Parliament must follow the current Constitution, since it would remain in effect until a new Constitution is established, he added.

 

Charter amendment is one of three core demands being made by anti-establishment protesters. They have also demanded the resignation of Prayut and his government, and reforms to the monarchy.

 

Prayut has insisted he will not resign but said he had no objection to “switching off” the unelected Senate’s power to vote for a prime minister.

 

"I agree to amend the constitution,” said the premier.

 

“As for the issue of senators choosing a prime minister, I don't want to emphasise it. I have no objection to them choosing or not choosing. It's a matter for debate in Parliament,” he said.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30396931

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-10-29

 

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56 minutes ago, webfact said:

he had no objection to “switching off” the unelected Senate’s power to vote for a prime minister.

It should never have been in <deleted> place originally !

Now amend the rest of it too.

A start.

""I agree to amend the constitution,” said the premier." Who's running the country, daddy? lol

What are the administrative and constitutional steps required to alter the constitution ?

He could delay the changes for as long as he wants, unless he places the matter as a high priority

Seems like offering something with no guarantee of change, but looks like he is listening to the protesters.

 

 

all the na sayers can apologize now. a smart and calculated decision that will surely be noticed and accepted by thai people. 

 

 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

“As for the issue of senators choosing a prime minister, I don't want to emphasise it. I have no objection to them choosing or not choosing. It's a matter for debate in Parliament,” he said.

So, a junta based parliament is going to debate whether a junta based senate can appoint a junta based PM ? Smoke and mirrors to me. 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

However, Parliament must follow the current Constitution,

Thats a joke,  Parliament must follow current constitution, they should have done that 6 years ago, bit late now.

Just a case of making up the rules to suit themselves.

These kids are Thailand's future.  They are making gains not seen before.  Or there is descent in the ranks.   Seeing cha cha finally leave office will help Thailand to compete.  

Just trying to buy himself more time. He will lie through his teeth and do whatever he has to to keep his position. Protesters, don’t believe a word and keep pushing for his removal (they know this already). 
 

Reading more about dissatisfaction in important areas. The very people they have to rely on to execute their plans are beginning to realize that the direction the elite want this country to move towards doesn’t benefit them. Quite the opposite actually. 
 

Power to the people. 

52 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

So, a junta based parliament is going to debate whether a junta based senate can appoint a junta based PM ? Smoke and mirrors to me. 

Unelected Senate (one half of Parliament) will vote on whether they will keep voting for PM......I have no objection to them choosing or not choosing. It's a matter for debate in Parliament,”

6 minutes ago, snawa said:

Unelected Senate (one half of Parliament) will vote on whether they will keep voting for PM......I have no objection to them choosing or not choosing. It's a matter for debate in Parliament,”

Half of them are military appointed; therefore, will vote for a military PM. The other half consists of the opposition and ‘coalition’. Coalition meaning they have the numbers. 
 

Parliament is a lost cause. Hence protesters on the street. 
 

 

After amending constitution, next step would be to re-instate political parties that have been banned and schedule another election. Let's see how much he really believes in democracy

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha gave the green light to amending the Constitution

When the top dogs were sworn in all those years ago, they neglected to swear the oath to defend the constitution anyway.

He doesn't care what the constitution states.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

"I agree to amend the constitution,” said the premier.

 

Sheesh. Who died and made this guy queen?

 

 

"Charter ammendments coming tomorrow"

 

Yes, I pinched that from the sign often seen in bars: "Free Beer Tomorrow".

 

The Senate gig is sweet: huge salary, four paid positions for "family". No work, plenty of time to snooze.

 

 

 

 

 

Uncle Tu forgets that any amendment to the charter almost certainly needs approval by a referendum so parts of it can't just be switched on or off. 

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Prayut has insisted he will not resign but said he had no objection to “switching off” the unelected Senate’s power to vote for a prime minister.

A very small carrot, I'll wait for the steak & spuds to follow.

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Prayut has insisted he will not resign but said he had no objection to “switching off” the unelected Senate’s power to vote for a prime minister.

Hog wash. How about completely eliminate the 250 hand picked regime members as this in itself is underhanded and corrupt.. The regime can push any agenda they like on a party that is backing them or make their ideology pushed as they also seem to control the courts and EC. He needs to get out with all his bozos. The more he stays the more the hatred for him and his groups and who they support and protect grows and festers. He and they are creating a potential civil war and a huge divide that will never be repaired between the generations. 

8 hours ago, pegman said:

A start.

Does this mean getting the guy that wrote the constitution back to re write it, which took a few years last time.

It's at least a small positive step in direction of trying to solve the crisis...????

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha gave the green light to amending the Constitution on Wednesday, as Parliament’s two-day special debate on the political crisis wrapped up.

I've heard Aussie MP's tell some beauties over the years, but this man just leaves them for dead. How many years between coup and election? How much corruption really cleaned up? How's the healing and reconciliation going?

Nah! Nothing's going to change.

40 minutes ago, newatthis said:

I've heard Aussie MP's tell some beauties over the years, but this man just leaves them for dead. How many years between coup and election? How much corruption really cleaned up? How's the healing and reconciliation going?

Nah! Nothing's going to change.

Had there been steps (as promised) to cease the corruption, and to have a path towards reconciliation, then the protesters would not be on the streets.

 

I guess having the tanks, water cannons, riot squads ( and submarines) gives him the upper hand

 

Helps sod all as the senate is a bunch of army puppets. Make it single chamber and free elections, then deal with the actual problem after the parliament has been voted in by the people, for the people.

10 hours ago, mr mr said:

all the na sayers can apologize now. a smart and calculated decision that will surely be noticed and accepted by thai people. 

 

 

Sorry to sound synical, but WHEN do you think this might happen?

4 hours ago, kiwikeith said:

Does this mean getting the guy that wrote the constitution back to re write it, which took a few years last time.

 

Oh you mean Meechai?

 

It’s like a plot from a Star Wars movie ! He bought a Death Star yet ? 

5 hours ago, holy cow cm said:

 He and they are creating a potential civil war and a huge divide that will never be repaired between the generations. 

 

The potential for civil war has existed for many years.

 

But the great departure was the final click in the combination that unlocked the wind.

 

There's no undoing that.

 

The die is cast.

 

There's no going back.

 

 

So, let me get this right.

 

Although the article implies Prayut has agreed to the senate losing it's bloc in choosing the PM, firstly Prayut is in no position to agree this and secondly the charter remains unchanged until changes have been agreed both by Parliament, I assume without a senate vote, and then in a referendum.

 

In other words, it isn't going to happen under this Government as they won't vote for the change, meaning the current senate will still be in a position to help choose the PM after the next election, whenever that is, meaning that regardless of the outcome of an election, unless there's an absolute landslide by the current opposition, which will never be allowed by the biased and probably corrupt EC, Thailand is likely to continue to have a military PM.

 

That's Thai democracy!

15 hours ago, webfact said:

"I agree to amend the constitution,” said the premier.

Just Do It.... actions speak louder then words or are you just blowing some hot air....