Constitutional Court allows parliament to go ahead with constitutional amendments
Tanakorn Sangiam

   

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Constitutional Court decided today that parliament has the power to start a process of new constitution drafting, provided a referendum is held to see if the people want a new one to be drafted, plus another referendum later to see if the people approve the draft changes.

The Constitutional Court released a statement on its resolution, following a petition filed by an MP and a Senator on whether the parliament has the power to initiate new constitutional drafting.

In a majority vote of the Justices, the Constitutional Court decided the parliament does have the power, provided that a referendum confirms that the general public wants a new constitution.

Under this ruling, two referendums must be held, one before the drafting, and one after the drafting.

The petition on the legality of parliament undertaking constitutional drafting was submitted by Palang Pracharath Party MP Paiboon Nititawan, and Senator Somchai Sawangkarn.

The Constitutional Court rejected a petition submitted by Mr Nataporn Toprayoon which alleged an effort to rewrite the constitution was an unconstitutional effort to overthrow the government.

The court says no concrete facts have emerged in relevance to this case, and rejected another similar petition submitted by former senator Ruangkrai Leekitwattana, who asked the Constitutional Court to suspend the second and third reading votes by the parliament on the constitutional amendment motion.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2021-03-12

 

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Will the referendums be free and fair without any demonstrations or protests by both sides, including the yellow shirts who have in the past been less than amicable, ie...Suthep and company.

1 hour ago, ThailandRyan said:

Will the referendums be free and fair without any demonstrations or protests by both sides, including the yellow shirts who have in the past been less than amicable, ie...Suthep and company.

I think you are a little ahead of the game here Ryan, first question should be will anybody bother voting?

2 minutes ago, sungod said:

I think you are a little ahead of the game here Ryan, first question should be will anybody bother voting?

I am always too far ahead, just thinking of the end game that may be played.  You always have to have the end in mind when you make a plan, but then this is Thailand where sometimes the end is the beginning and things never get off of the ground.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The Constitutional Court decided today that parliament has the power to start a process of new constitution drafting, provided a referendum is held to see if the people want a new one to be drafted, plus another referendum later to see if the people approve the draft changes.

When will the "people" be allowed to have a say in the changes?