Thailand Charter Change On MP Numbers Set To Be Passed

Charter change on MP numbers set to be passed

By The Nation

Politicians expect the amendment to the Constitution on the number of MPs to sail through today.

The third and final reading of the charter amendment is scheduled for today. The amended laws concern the requirement of parliamentary approval for international agreements, and the election system that would change the number of constituency and party-list MPs from the current 400+80 respectively to 375+125.

The amendment would need the support of at least 313 members - more than half of the total (625) MPs and senators - to be passed. Each legislator must pronounce his or her vote (say yes or no to the change openly) during an alphabetical roll call.

Unless the changes are approved, the charter change will be dropped.

De facto Chart Thai Pattana Party leader Banharn Silapa-archa said most of his party's MPs would vote to support the changes. However, he would respect the decision of chief adviser Sanan Kachornprasart, who voted against the draft last time.

A Democrat Party source, who asked not to be named, said the party's key members were confident that the change would get enough support.

Deputy Senate Speaker Nikom Wairatpanij declined to respond to reports about legislators being lobbied to support the changed drafts. However, he believes the laws will be passed with about 350 votes.

The draft changes to the number of MPs passed the second reading with a 298-211 vote, with 35 legislators abstaining, while three did not vote.

After the second reading, there have been reports of attempts to lobby or even bribe politicians to vote for the change.

Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said the opposition insisted on supporting the reinstatement of the 1997 Constitution and the 400+100 MPs formula. Therefore, unless the opposition MPs vote against the 375+125 MPs formula, they would abstain at the parliamentary meeting today.

Completing the constitutional amendments is one of the three conditions Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has set before he calls for dissolution of the House of Representatives ahead of a general election. The other two are a good economy and political peace in the country.

Amid reports of political parties trying to woo or buy MPs from other parties in preparation for the election, Abhisit denied reports about his party's involvement.

Meanwhile, a key member of the Puea Pandin Party, Pairote Suwanchawee, said it would be clear only after the charter change whether his party would merge with Ruam Chart Pattana Party.

The Election Commission has started preparing for the election by providing training to its staff, especially on how to prevent electoral fraud.

-- The Nation 2011-02-11