The government is likely to seek a vote in parliament tomorrow to reject the Constitution Court's order suspending the third reading of the charter amendment bill.
Whipping up the crowds: Democrat Party MP Suthep Thaugsuban speaks to the party's supporters in the Wong Wian Yai area about joining the opposition's campaign to oppose the charter amendment and reconciliation bills. Mr Suthep said the government is pushing the bills to whitewash former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. (Photo by Pawat Laopaisarntaksin)
A government MP is likely to move a motion asking MPs and senators to reject the ruling, at a joint sitting of parliament.
Referring to the likely vote, senator for Nonthaburi Direk Thungfang dismissed suggestions of a conflict between the legislative and the judicial branches.
But he insisted parliament President Somsak Kiatsuranont has the authority to call for a vote on the charter amendment bill.
Mr Direk said the court's injunction has been opposed by many quarters, including some legal experts and some members of the judiciary. It appears the court order has fewer supporters than opponents, Mr Direk said.
He supported the calls for the charter court to speed up its consideration of petitions filed against the charter amendment bill to end the charter row.
The court's ruling on the issue must be free of ambiguities and must not be beyond that which is allowed by law, Mr Direk said.
Government chief whip Udomdej Rattanasathien confirmed the joint session tomorrow will not vote to pass the charter change bill, as the third reading of the bill will be off the meeting agenda.
It is up to the parliament president to decide whether the third reading of the bill should go ahead and when, Mr Udomdej said.
He also said the sessions on Wednesday and Thursday will not debate the four reconciliation bills.
Democrat Party and opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva reiterated his call for the government to close the current parliamentary session to avoid conflict between the court and parliament.
Chaturon Chaisaeng, a former executive of the defunct Thai Rak Thai Party, said parliament should go ahead with the third reading of the bill.
Parliament would set a harmful precedent if it continues putting off a vote on the charter bill based on the court's order, Mr Chaturon said.
Suriyasai Katasila, a coordinator of the Green Politics group, said the ruling Pheu Thai Party and the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship are working together to whip up opposition to the court's order and are now trying to challenge the authority of the entire judiciary.
He said if the charter change bill eventually passes parliament, the next step will be for charter drafters to design the new constitution in a way that allows politicians to interfere with the constitution court.
"This is just the first round of the confrontation between the executive branch and the judicial branch. The real and final aim of Thaksin and his supporters is to push for the reconciliation bills to give an amnesty to Thaksin," Mr Suriyasai said.
Meanwhile, a recent Suan Dusit poll found 40% of 2,430 respondents wanted the government to use reason to resolve political conflicts rather than violent means.
They also agreed that the government should avoid using its House majority to achieve its ends without good reason while 56% of respondents said the opposition should not create further chaos and should not oppose everything.