Referendum bill poised to clear first hurdle in the House

[webfact]

 

The government-sponsored referendum bill, aimed at revising the Referendum Act 2021 as part of the charter rewrite process, is poised to clear the initial House test, says Chart Thai Pattana Party list-MP Nikorn Chamnong. Nikorn, who heads a sub-committee on the charter referendum, revealed that the bill is ready for House deliberation following discussions with opposition whips.

 

Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, who leads a government panel on public vote requirements for charter changes, will present the bill to the House of Representatives today. This bill had earlier been posted on the PM's Office website for public feedback before undergoing refinements and Cabinet approval.

 

Nikorn expressed optimism that the bill would pass smoothly, along with three other pending referendum bills with similar principles proposed by the ruling Pheu Thai Party, the main opposition Move Forward Party (MFP), and the Bhumjaithai Party.

 

Pakornwut Udompipatsakul, the chief opposition whip, noted that the government-sponsored bill is expected to be accepted alongside the others, which will then be consolidated during the scrutiny stage by a special House committee.

 

Nikorn stated that the amendment aims to enhance current referendum laws, making them comprehensive enough to apply beyond just the constitution. The bill seeks to abolish the double majority rule, criticised for making it difficult to pass essential laws.

 

This rule requires over 50% of eligible voters' participation and the majority of those voting to approve a new charter.

 

Additionally, the bill proposes holding referendums alongside national elections to save time and expenses and allowing voting by post or electronic means. Nikorn anticipates that amending the referendum law and its subsequent screening by a new Senate will take no more than six months.

 

File photo courtesy: Wikimedia

 

-- 2024-06-18

 

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[Purdey]

Sounds reasonable but would have liked to know about counter arguments from opposition parties (if any).

[Srikcir]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

This rule requires over 50% of eligible voters' participation and the majority of those voting to approve a new charter.

So does this say as an example that if 50% of registered voters participate, then a majority of 50% (ie., 26%) will approve the referendum? In effect the referendum can beapproved by a minority of registered voters.

Not so unique actually as this was the same voting process used for the 2017 constitution referendum.

At that time the EC as I recall suggested the majority for approval must exceed 59% of registered voters. The NCPO said no.

In the 2017 referendum, it was approved by 61% of voters with a 59% turnout (wikipedia). That means about 36% of registered voters approved the referendum.

Ok, you might say that was the choice of the electorate who didn't vote. Actually, it was a silent protest to the referendum carefully controlled by the Gen. Prayut military junta (aka NCPO).

(again Wikipedia paraphrasing)

The junta banned criticism of the 2017 draft, banned public monitoring of the vote, arrested and prosecuted by the military those who expressed public opposition to the draft constitution, and a trained group of canvassers hired by the junta's CDC to campaign for passage.

[kingstonkid]

Mail in and digital voting.

 

Why do I see corruption.  100 million this digitally vote for PPP.

 

LoL