Backing sought for Thai Senate session

[webfact]

POLITICS
Backing sought for Senate session
Khanittha Thepphajorn,
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Senate has asked relevant agencies to support calls that a special Senate session be held on April 24, first Deputy Senate Speaker Surachai Liengboonlertchai said yesterday.

Speaking as caretaker Senate Speaker, Surachai said there would not be a special Senate session on Friday because caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has refused to authorise the necessary Royal Decree, citing a legal technicality.

He argued that Article 132 of the Constitution states that, in order to perform tasks such as appointing regents, or appointing and impeaching members of independent agencies, the Senate can hold a special session when the House of Representatives is in recess or is dissolved. Surachai dismissed the government's claim that the tasks the Senate needs to carry out in a special convention are not urgent, saying they would be beneficial to the state and must be completed urgently.

Though the Senate has faced delays in considering impeaching a political officeholder, the official in question will have to face a grilling sooner or later, Surachai said, adding that the delay could affect the Senate's work schedule.


-- The Nation 2014-04-16

[WoopyDoo]

So if no senate session is granted, then really, we are already in a political vacuum.

There technically isn't a government..... please don't call the PTP cabinet a government.

[SICHONSTEVE]

So if no senate session is granted, then really, we are already in a political vacuum.

There technically isn't a government..... please don't call the PTP cabinet a government.

I wouldn't dream of it!!

[Scamper]

Pheu Thai is trying to keep the Senate from opening due to the possibility that they might be called to consider Yingluck's possible impeachment.

That's essentially the " technicality " that Yingluck is referring to.

Edited April 16, 2014 by Scamper

[Costas2008]

She is still trying to save her arse.

Not long now Ms Yingluck the end is nigh.

[rickirs]

An interesting problem for the INTERIM CARETAKER Speaker. He can only state his personal opinion and not the majority opinion of the newly elected, but yet unistalled Senate. His personal opinion carries no legal or authoritarian weight. A majority opinion of the Sentae would carry usch importance but it cannot legally assemble. Looks like it time for someone to take the Senate to the Constitutional Court who can rule for whatever works against the administration.

[pkspeaker]

They are not 'urgent'.. The entire purpose of convening the Senate is so the anti-democracy group can sack the limited powers caretaker PM AND her entire cabnet to create a political vacuum, and then to use the vague language of section 7 to appoint a dictatorship 'council' that has full powers.. meanwhile the EC continues to stonewall the next election and the pad/pdrc has already said it will sabotage the next election as well.. so that the dictatorship continues indefinitely..for years..

The Senate can wait until the new elected lower house convenes to appoint a new NaCC member and then consider sacking the PM for these bogus charges.

btw the constitution clearly states that the PM and cabnet must be MPs, but that's just going to be conveniently ignored..

Edited April 16, 2014 by pkspeaker

[tingtongteesood]

What is this so called 'technicality' - details please. The senate has to assemble eventually and when it does Yingluck the useless will be gone - can't wait !

[Yme]

The Senate can't sit until 95 per cent of the seats have been confirmed - simple. And that is dependent on the EC which says the task won't be completed until the end of next month.

The anti-Pheu Thai posters should go look for conspiracies elsewhere, or better yet spend their time reading the Constitution and the Electoral Act so that when they post they don't sound so ill-informed.