CDC: Talks on senate's role with NLA on Friday

CDC: Talks on senate's role with NLA on Friday

Representatives of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) will sit down with the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) on Friday to discuss how to amend the draft charter's transitory provisions, CDC spokesman Udom Rathamarit said on Tuesday.

The amendment was expected to be completed by the end of this month, he said.

The transitory provisions, particularly Section 272, need to be amended in line with the additional question passed at the referendum relating to the senate's role in the selection of a prime minister. 

Voters were asked whether the 250 appointed senators serving a five-year term during the transition period to full democracy should be allowed to join the House of Representatives in the voting process to select a prime minister during this period.

The question was approved by a majority, along with the draft constitution, at the Aug 7 referendum.

Mr Udom said since the additional question was proposed by the NLA, its representatives would be required to explain its intentions, and where in the draft charter must therefore be amended.

Section 272 of the transitory provisions, in particular, needs to be amended to make way for an outsider to be elected prime minister if the House of Representives fails to elect the prime minister from lists of candidates proposed by political parties.

The CDC expected to finish with the amendment of the transitory provisions by the end of August, Mr Udom said.

Also to be discussed at the CDC-NLA meeting is whether the senators should be allowed to vote in a no-confidence motion, as MPs, or not.

The spokesman said the CDC is more concerned about the drafting of 10 organic laws within the limited timeframe given.  Four relate to elections, four to independent agencies and two to the courts.

He said the CDC was coordinating with agencies concerned in the drafting process.

Although the 2014 interim constitution allows for more people to be appointed to help draft the organic laws, the CDC had not approached anyone, Mr Udom said.

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