Lawmakers Gearing Up For Charter Rewrite Debate

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Lawmakers gearing up for charter rewrite debate

By The Nation

Published on September 7, 2009

The Cabinet is expected to approve a motion tomorrow to convene the joint House-Senate session for a general debate geared for charter amendments, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday.

"The joint session is seen as necessary to form a decision on how to proceed with the charter rewrite," he said.

Abhisit said he expected the lawmakers to deliberate issues in one session before voting on the process to bring about the draft amendments.

He dismissed speculation his main coalition party made an about-turn to support the rewrite, saying the Democrats had never opposed amending of the charter. The only pre-condition was the rewrite should serve the public and not vested interests, he said.

Following Cabinet's approval of the government-sponsored motion, he said he would then coordinate with Parliament President Chai Chidchob to schedule the joint session and its format for debate.

Abhisit said the upcoming debate on a charter rewrite should not be linked to the issue of amnesty for political offences.

The charter rewrite is expected to focus on six issues designed to improve the political system, according to the reconciliation panel's report, he said.

Critics should not act in haste to condemn the rewrite before studying the proposed amendments, he said, arguing the rewrite of Article 190 for framing international agreement is not designed for the self-serving gain of political parties.

He said the debate on charter amendments was deemed appropriate at this juncture because the government had already devoted sufficient attention to fighting economic woes.

He warned against speculating whether the charter rewrite would quicken the House dissolution.It still remains unclear whether or not the lawmakers will impose transitional clauses in order to delay the promulgation of revised provisions, he said.

If there is a transitional clause, as happened in past amendments, then there is no linkage between the charter rewrite and a snap election, he added.

The Democrat Party has agreed to convene the parliamentary session to debate the process for charter rewrite, its deputy spokesman Warong Dejkitwikrom said.

After a preliminary review, the main coalition party has voiced support to amend two provisions related to the framing of international agreements and the revision from multi-seat to single-seat constituencies.

He said his party might agree to holding a public hearing or a referendum on the draft amendments - if the public and the majority of lawmakers approved.

Pheu Thai Party deputy leader Plodprasop Suraswadi called for a speedy process to amend the charter.

"The deepening social divisions can be attributed to the Constitution and the problem will degenerate beyond rehabilitation without the timely action to rectify the flaws," he said.

Plodprasop said in his opinion, the charter was undemocratic.

He voiced optimism that the House and the Senate had sufficient votes to push for the charter amendments.

He claimed 188 opposition MPs and 170 coalition lawmakers and senators were in favour of rewriting the charter. A minimum number for the passage of a charter amendment is 324 votes.

He said the government could and should push for a vote to pass the six proposed amendments without having to convene a joint session for a general debate.

Former charter writer Seri Suwannapanont said he suspected a conflict of interest if MPs and senators were the main driving force for the charter rewrite.

Seri reminded lawmakers they might face impeachment proceedings in case the amendments were designed for self-serving gains.

Amendment issues, which can be construed to serve politicians and their parties, include the switch of the voting system to a single-seat constituency, the extension of the term for appointed senators from three to six years and the permission for MPs to hold political office.

People's Alliance for Democracy spokesman Suriyasai Katasila warned the charter amendments might deepen the turbulence instead of resolving it.

Suriyasai said six proposed amendments were designed to serve politicians and political parties.

Instead of addressing divisive issues like the pro-Thaksin camp trying to instigate an uprising and the concerted move to smear the monarchy, the amendments were about easing the voting system and allowing MPs to interfere in the bureaucracy, he said.

He also voiced concern about a draft clause to cancel punishment by party dissolution.

He reminded politicians about a possible public backlash if they went ahead to rig the charter to serve those in power and not the public.

-- The Nation 2009/07/09

[LawnGnome]

Its funny. Aphisit is doing exactly what he said he would. Review and revise the charter. People don't give him enough credit. In 10 years time we are going to look back on him with very positive memories for what he accomplished, and what he tried to accomplish, under the most difficult of circumstances.

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Parliament may debate charter review next week : PM

By The Nation

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved the government-sponsored motion to convene the House-Senate session for

a general debate to amend the charter, Prime Minister Abhisit said, hinting at the tentative date of September 16.

"The general debate will base on the report prepared by the reconciliation committee," he said.

The time allocation and format for debate will be determined by Parliament President Chai Chidchob, he said.

He said he expected the debate to be the venue to solicit well-rounded opinions on charter amendments, leading to a conclusion on how to proceed with the charter rewrite.

Of the six proposed amendments, he said lawmakers appeared to have reached a consensus to rewrite Article 190 of the Constitution regarding the framing of international agreements.

-- The Nation 2009/08/09