Thai Senate aims to open session next Thursday

[webfact]

Senate aims to open session next Thursday
By English News



BANGKOK, April 17 – The caretaker Cabinet will be asked to go ahead with the opening of a Senate session next Thursday to debate pending issues, a senior senator said today.

Deputy Senate Speaker Surachai Liangbunlertchai, concurrently acting Senate Speaker, said the Senate will seek a royal command to open an extraordinary session on Thursday if the caretaker Cabinet has no objection to the move.

He was optimistic that the government and Senate would reach an agreement on the opening of the session without having to ask for a Constitutional Court ruling.

He said three major issues pending Senate debate include the removal of Deputy Senate Speaker Nikom Wairatpanich, the appointment of new members to the National Anti-Corruption Commission, and the appointment of honorary members to the Administrative Court.

The three issues are in the process of regular deliberation without being pushed to speed up debate and without a hidden agenda, he said.

He said the widely-debated issue of the appointment of a new prime minister under the stipulation of Section 7 of the Constitution will definitely not be included in the Senate agenda.

The government and the Senate are involved in a tug-of-war on the opening of the Senate’s extraordinary session. The government is in charge of seeking a royal command on the matter. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-04-17

[webfact]

Deputy Senate speaker reiterates call for govt to open parliamentary session
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Senate Speaker Surachai Liangboonlertchai Thursday reiterated his call to the government to enact a royal decree in order to open an extraordinary parliamentary session that would allow the upper chamber to deliberate an impeachment motion.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission has asked the Senate to retroactively impeach former Senate speaker Nikom Wairatpanij for his allegedly unlawful role in directing the charter amendment bill on the Senate's composition.

Surachai said the charter requires the Senate to deliberate the request of the NACC within 20 days and the deadline is Friday. Since the Senate cannot meet the deadline, the government should enact a royal decree to open the parliamentary session no later than April 30 so that the Senate could perform its duty, Surachai said.

The government cited several reasons in arguing that a parliamentary session could not be opened for now. Among these, the government said new MPs have not been elected yet and there is no Parliament president.

Surachai said if caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra continued to insist that she could not convene a new parliamentary session, a ruling must be sought from the Constitutional Court.

"I would like to implore the prime minister to consider this and approve the request. But if she insists that the session cannot be opened, government agencies concerned will have to seek a ruling from the Constitutional Court," Surachai said.

He said the government should consult with the Senate on the issue rather than bothering the court.


-- The Nation 2014-04-17

[winstonc]

constitutional court it is then..they only agree if it suits their own agenda..but why do i even bother stating the blindingly obvious..

[Scamper]

As the administration continues to require its hand to be held through every step of this process, yet again, we are faced with the necessity for yet another Constitutional Court ruling. How bad can it be that there needs to be a court ruling to allow the Senate to even meet ? What Pheu Thai is doing is not only transparent, it is painfully transparent. And it's also embarrassing. This crisis is being elongated by Pheu Thai's feet-dragging. A recent poll indicates that the public is anxious. Who can blame them ? On the one hand is the administration under Yingluck - that instead of maintaining a posture of judicial deference - have instead become a role model of the UDD. And on the other hand is the increasing tension of the UDD's rhetoric towards the judicial process. Pheu Thai has an interesting take on time. Apparently it's perfectly alright to rush questionable bills through parliament in the middle of the night. But when it comes to being held account for these actions, they drag out the process. likely in the hope that they will wear everyone out. Well, the public's already exhausted. So to that end, they've succeeded.

Edited April 17, 2014 by Scamper

[chainarong]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

As the administration continues to require its hand to be held through every step of this process, yet again, we are faced with the necessity for yet another Constitutional Court ruling. How bad can it be that there needs to be a court ruling to allow the Senate to even meet ? What Pheu Thai is doing is not only transparent, it is painfully transparent. And it's also embarrassing. This crisis is being elongated by Pheu Thai's feet-dragging. A recent poll indicates that the public is anxious. Who can blame them ? On the one hand is the administration under Yingluck - that instead of maintaining a posture of judicial deference - have instead become a role model of the UDD. And on the other hand is the increasing tension of the UDD's rhetoric towards the judicial process. Pheu Thai has an interesting take on time. Apparently it's perfectly alright to rush questionable bills through parliament in the middle of the night. But when it comes to being held account for these actions, they drag out the process. likely in the hope that they will wear everyone out. Well, the public's already exhausted. So to that end, they've succeeded.

The old delaying tactic, hope everyone forgets, like a re-write every-time we hear about Thaskin and how good he was.

[WoopyDoo]

Oh this is going to be so so sweet.

The cabinet forced into HAVING to open the Senate officially even against their will.

It is like giving them a shovel and asking them to dig their own graves.

An apt end for a bunch of political misfits.

[gabruce]

Is the PTP position that they could avoid having the Senate meet forever? Is this a way to do away with a troublesome Senate?

[rickirs]

The Government's position in the past has been consistent. It cannot issue royal decrees when it means breeching the constitution. Such action would submit the Government as performing an unconstitutional act and subject to potential jurisdictional actions.

Surachai said the charter requires the Senate to deliberate the request of the NACC within 20 days and the deadline is today (4/18/2014). Since the Senate cannot meet the charter deadline, a royal decree to open the parliamentary session later would be unconstitutional by the literal reading of the charter.

Surachai needs to request a ruling from the Constitutional Court. I'm sure the Court can rule within a week to clarify the situation. However, the Court may not necessarily provide a specific solution to the Senate's dilemma. Just as the Court ruled that the date for a new election to be held after the constitution mandated limit of 60 days must be agreed upon by both the EC and the Government without a royal decree, it may similarily rule that the Senate may open its session after the charter mandated limit of 20 days with agreement between the Government and the Senate Interim Speaker without a royal decree. It may come down to whether the Court cares to rule consistently without political bias or demonstrate a political bias in its decisions.

[Acharn]

constitutional court it is then..they only agree if it suits their own agenda..but why do i even bother stating the blindingly obvious..

Well, the last person I know of who willingly drank the cup of poison was Aristotle, who was condemned to death by the people of Athens acting as a court. Of course the government will follow their own agenda. Why is Surachai even bringing this up? Does he think it makes Yingluck look bad? The Constitution Court is sure to rule against her anyway, so take it to the court. Let's finish the farce. Everybody knows what's happening anyway.

[Acharn]

Is the PTP position that they could avoid having the Senate meet forever? Is this a way to do away with a troublesome Senate?

I believe the government position is that they cannot open parliament until new elections have been held, which the court has ruled cannot happen until the election commission agrees. I don't recall why the election commission is refusing to hold another election, but they have a reason.

[Acharn]

Oh this is going to be so so sweet.

The cabinet forced into HAVING to open the Senate officially even against their will.

It is like giving them a shovel and asking them to dig their own graves.

An apt end for a bunch of political misfits.

Better to be pushed in front of a firing squad than to be handed a pistol with one round in it and expected to do the job "honorably" yourself, I think.

Edited April 18, 2014 by Acharn

[Acharn]

As the administration continues to require its hand to be held through every step of this process, yet again, we are faced with the necessity for yet another Constitutional Court ruling. How bad can it be that there needs to be a court ruling to allow the Senate to even meet ? What Pheu Thai is doing is not only transparent, it is painfully transparent. And it's also embarrassing. This crisis is being elongated by Pheu Thai's feet-dragging. A recent poll indicates that the public is anxious. Who can blame them ? On the one hand is the administration under Yingluck - that instead of maintaining a posture of judicial deference - have instead become a role model of the UDD. And on the other hand is the increasing tension of the UDD's rhetoric towards the judicial process. Pheu Thai has an interesting take on time. Apparently it's perfectly alright to rush questionable bills through parliament in the middle of the night. But when it comes to being held account for these actions, they drag out the process. likely in the hope that they will wear everyone out. Well, the public's already exhausted. So to that end, they've succeeded.

Well, wait a minute. What is it you want? When the Prime Minister dissolved Parliement in order to hold new elections the Democrats refused to participate on the grounds that everybody hates them and they could not win. Then the government tried to hold new elections and the PDRC intimidated people from going to vote and blockaded other polling places, so the court ruled the election was invalid and must be held over again. Then the Election Commission said the government can't hold an election right now. The government says now that they are only caretzkers and are forbidden to open Parliament until a new election is completed. Why are you complaining? You should direct your anger against the Administrative Court and the National Anti Corruption Commission for dragging their feet. The problem is the people behind the PDRC are divided on tactics and strategy. Some prefer to have the present situation continue until the elephant in the room goes away. Some want to have a Prime Minister appointed by the Senate, which they think will give their faction an advantage.Some of the rank and file members of PDRC want to see justice being done, which to them means hanging Yingluck from the Giant Swing. Everybody is aware that if elections are held Pheua Thai is going to win a plurality, maybe even a majority, so the PDRC and their backers must prevent an election at all costs. Of course it will have to be decided by the courts, but right now I think they realize that everybody remembers 2008 and suddenly they are reluctant to act.

Yes, we live in interesting times.

[rubl]

I haven't been paying much attention to things lately, so please excuse this question

A few months a go the wife of red-shirt Kwanchai expressed the desire to serve the people better than she'd been able to up to then. She wanted to put herself up as Senate candidate (for Udon Thani province I assume).

Anyone here who knows if the electorate has shown it's appreciation?

[dinooz]

I haven't been paying much attention to things lately, so please excuse this question

A few months a go the wife of red-shirt Kwanchai expressed the desire to serve the people better than she'd been able to up to then. She wanted to put herself up as Senate candidate (for Udon Thani province I assume).

Anyone here who knows if the electorate has shown it's appreciation?

Yeah she romped home,not sure if she is amonst the ones to be scrutinized tho,one would think adding and abetting a crim would count against her but as you know Rubi this is Thailand.

[Arkady]

constitutional court it is then..they only agree if it suits their own agenda..but why do i even bother stating the blindingly obvious..

Well, the last person I know of who willingly drank the cup of poison was Aristotle, who was condemned to death by the people of Athens acting as a court. Of course the government will follow their own agenda. Why is Surachai even bringing this up? Does he think it makes Yingluck look bad? The Constitution Court is sure to rule against her anyway, so take it to the court. Let's finish the farce. Everybody knows what's happening anyway.

It was a Socrates who drank hemlock in accordance with his death sentence in Plato's Symposium. There is actually no evidence that Socrates ever existed. Most scholars believe he was invented by Plato as a dramatic presenter of the latter's own philosophical ideas.

Aristotle lived a bit later than Plato and advocated a political philosophy that was far from democratic Athenian ideals. In The Republic he proposes that the ideal city state should in fact be ruled by an enlightened dictator.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[issanaus]

Is the PTP position that they could avoid having the Senate meet forever? Is this a way to do away with a troublesome Senate?

The PTP position is one man one vote - So if Thaksin votes that he wants something - a democratic decision has been made - hence there is no need for the Senate

Edited April 18, 2014 by issanaus

[hawker9000]

Well, wait a minute. What is it you want? When the Prime Minister dissolved Parliement in order to hold new elections the Democrats refused to participate on the grounds that everybody hates them and they could not win. Then the government tried to hold new elections and the PDRC intimidated people from going to vote and blockaded other polling places, so the court ruled the election was invalid and must be held over again. Then the Election Commission said the government can't hold an election right now. The government says now that they are only caretzkers and are forbidden to open Parliament until a new election is completed. Why are you complaining? You should direct your anger against the Administrative Court and the National Anti Corruption Commission for dragging their feet. The problem is the people behind the PDRC are divided on tactics and strategy. Some prefer to have the present situation continue until the elephant in the room goes away. Some want to have a Prime Minister appointed by the Senate, which they think will give their faction an advantage.Some of the rank and file members of PDRC want to see justice being done, which to them means hanging Yingluck from the Giant Swing. Everybody is aware that if elections are held Pheua Thai is going to win a plurality, maybe even a majority, so the PDRC and their backers must prevent an election at all costs. Of course it will have to be decided by the courts, but right now I think they realize that everybody remembers 2008 and suddenly they are reluctant to act.

Yes, we live in interesting times.

What a thoroughly objective, even handed, balanced, neutral and nonpartisan overview of the current situation... How could anyone avoid coming to the same conclusions you do?!