CDC Affirms It's Not Extending Power of Current Legislature

BANGKOK, 9 March 2015 (NNT) - The Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) has denied claims that a provision in the new constitution to establish a council to oversee national reform is a way of extending the power of the current legislature beyond its initial timeframe.

A 120-seat council will be established to oversee the implementation of the reform measuresm which are detailed in the new constitution. Of the 120, one-half(60) will come from the National Reform Council (NRC), 30 will come from the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), and the rest will be experts on various subjects.

CDC Spokesperson Kamnoon Sithisaman said the establishment of the new council was not meant to extend the powers of the NLA and NRC, but to serve as a transitional body that oversees the implementation of reform measures once the new constitution is in place.

According to Mr. Kamnoon, it is necessary that most of the members of the new council be NRC and NLA members, given a completely new lineup may not accurately interpret the reform provisions in the new constitution.

Furthermore, the new council will be independent from the newly elected government in order to prevent potential partisan motives from distracting the reform agendas. In addition, the new council will not hold power over the new government.


-- NNT 2015-03-09

It will be interesting to see how this council interacts with a new Government, especially if parts of the reform perhaps go against what a Government is planning to do.

They need to make it extremely clear what the powers of this new Council are, otherwise i can just see a deadlock occurring, and a new round of court cases, counter claims and protests.

I would of thought 120 seat council is over kill, something smaller and more dynamic would be preferable. To me it almost seems likes its a jobs for the boys scenario. If they all have their 3 additional helpers that would be another 500 odd people to be accommodated, paid for etc.

"CDC Spokesperson Kamnoon Sithisaman said the establishment of the new council was not meant to extend the powers of the NLA and NRC"

So far, as I understand the OP, a NEW transitional body is required to move things forward.

"it is necessary that most of the members of the new council be NRC and NLA members, given a completely new lineup may not accurately interpret the reform provisions in the new constitution."

...and it seems the new temporary transitional council will necessarily be made up of members of the old transitional temporary body, in order to move things forward.

In case there is any confusion...

"The Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) has denied claims that a provision in the new constitution to establish a council to oversee national reform is a way of extending the power of the current legislature beyond its initial timeframe."

Thank you, now everything is perfectly clear.