Charter amendment bill set aside as Thai lawmakers debate if it even exists

[webfact]

Wednesday’s parliamentary session was marked by long and heated arguments over whether the charter-amendment bill should go to a final reading or be dropped altogether.

Last week, the Constitutional Court ruled that Parliament had the authority to write a new Constitution but said a national referendum must be held first to see if the public actually wants a new charter. It also ruled that a second public referendum must be held on the completed charter draft.

Lawmakers were scheduled to vote on the third and final reading of the draft bill on Wednesday, but Parliament President Chuan Leekpai permitted a debate on whether the amendment bill should move forward at all.

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/charter-amendment-bill-set-aside-as-thai-lawmakers-debate-if-it-even-exists/

 

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[webfact]

Charter amendment bill voted down

The bill seeking to amend the current Constitution which was promulgated while the military junta was in power in 2017 was voted down late Wednesday night after more than 10 hours of heated debate.

Appointed senators played a key role in derailing the bill with virtually all of them either voting against it or abstaining while all MPs of Palang Pracharath, the core coalition party, also abstained, thus depriving the bill of the simple majority it needed to pass.

Under the current Constitution, a constitutional amendment needs the endorsement of at least one-third of senators to be adopted.  The 250 senators were handpicked by the military junta and most have spoken out against the amendment bill.

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/charter-amendment-bill-voted-down/

[Thaiwrath]

Appointed senators played a key role in derailing the bill with virtually all of them either voting against it or abstaining 

This is what happens when you make your own rules, and make it nearly impossible for them to be challenged.

Democracy, my <deleted>,

Disgraceful. 

[RichardColeman]

 

34 minutes ago, webfact said:

The 250 senators were handpicked by the military junta and most have spoken out against the amendment bill.

It's not surprise really that Thailand has now been rated as 'Un-free' recently.

[sammieuk1]

All I see for the last 5+ years is a thieves charter from a bunch of muggers ????

[mtls2005]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Appointed senators played a key role in derailing the bill with virtually all of them either voting against it or abstaining while all MPs of Palang Pracharath, the core coalition party, also abstained, thus depriving the bill of the simple majority it needed to pass.

 

Wow.

 

In case there was any doubt about the legitimacy of this constitution or government.

 

After ~ 20-ish tries they finally got it "right".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Last week, the Constitutional Court ruled that Parliament had the authority to write a new Constitution but said a national referendum must be held first to see if the public actually wants a new charter. It also ruled that a second public referendum must be held on the completed charter draft.

 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

but Parliament President Chuan Leekpai permitted a debate on whether the amendment bill should move forward at all.

So basically parliament don't want the people to have a vote.

As we thought.

[metisdead]

Please use discretion in your references to the government. Phrases which can be considered as anti-coup will be removed. Referring to Thailand or the government as a dictatorship, military dictatorship or other such terms will be removed.

[klauskunkel]

The government is a benevolent uncleship.

[sandbox]

I don't understand how, within a democratic apparatus, a member of the voting body be allowed to abstain. If they don't cast a vote, what is their function for actually being there in the first place?

[ThailandRyan]

3 minutes ago, sandbox said:

I don't understand how, within a democratic apparatus, a member of the voting body be allowed to abstain. If they don't cast a vote, what is their function for actually being there in the first place?

one word for your question it is all about "Graft"

[Paul Knight]

It is these people who are in charge of Thailand, self-serving sychopants of the current leadership. God/ Buddha help Thailand as it appears humans are failing 

[madmitch]

Would any serious amendments be made iwith the current Government and Senate? They'd probably end up tightening it! Need to wait until there's a proper Government in place and the current senate disbanded. And who knows when that might be?