Thai budget bill constitutional: Court

[webfact]

BUDGET
Budget bill constitutional: Court
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Constitutional Court judges on Friday unanimously voted that the 2014 budget bill does not violate the Constitution.

The verdict means the government can immediately seek the royal endorsement for the bill. As it is passed into law, the government can reimburse spending which has been delayed from October 1.

On September 5, a petition signed by 115 MPs and senators was submitted to the Parliament president asking for the Constitutional Court to issue a ruling on whether the 2014 budget bill violates the charter.

The petition was initiated by appointed Senator Paiboon Nititawan and Songkhla Democrat MP Wirat Kalayasiri.

In the petition, they argued that the House’s ad hoc committee to alter the bill did not consult with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) or any court, including the Administrative Court, before cutting their budgets.

The panel had decided unilaterally to cut the proposed budget of courts and independent agencies. Originally, the 2014 budget allotted to the courts of justice was Bt18.7 billion, including Bt2.2 billion for the Administrative Court and Bt1.5 billion to the NACC. The committee later altered the figures to Bt14.5 billion, Bt2 billion and Bt1.3 billion respectively.

Earlier today, Deputy Prime Minister Pongthep Thepkanchana voiced optimism for a favourable judicial ruling.

"The bill has not violated any charter provisions and the Constitutional Court has not been empowered to review the budgetary allocation," he said.

At a cosmetics fair today, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra also refrained from commenting on the verdict.

-- The Nation 2013-10-04

[hammered]

It always looked like a pretty weird reason to try and derail a budget. Good to see it did not fly.

[Deez]

The country is flooding and Yingluck is attending Cosmetic Fairs. Typical and pathetic

[khunken]

The country is flooding and Yingluck is attending Cosmetic Fairs. Typical and pathetic

Yes & no.

She has far more knowledge of cosmetics than flood abatement & her walk-abouts (or boat-abouts) are just photo ops & good for nothing.

The finding by the CC is to be expected. I find it difficult to see a budget being unconstitutional.

[Baerboxer]

It always looked like a pretty weird reason to try and derail a budget. Good to see it did not fly.

For once, I agree with you. Absurd attempt to derail the budget.

[Noistar]

The country is flooding and Yingluck is attending Cosmetic Fairs. Typical and pathetic

I'm surprised she refrained from commenting - hang on, no I'm not

[jbrain]

Question : Could that decision have anything to do with this ?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/672310-red-shirts-launch-protest-outside-judges-home/

Answer : yes it has because it's clearly formulated in the OP of that thread.

[MaiChai]

The Constitutional Court seems very cooperative with the government at the moment. One wonders if there was sweeteners involved?

[BlackJack]

Some big dinners coming soon

[Valentine]

Some big dinners coming soon

Perhaps they found a more discreet delivery boy for the pastry boxes.