Court to rule on charter change petition

Court to rule on charter change petition

The Constitution Court will use a weekly meeting on Wednesday to rule on a petition against the government's proposed charter amendment to change the make-up of the Senate, filed by a group of lawmakers, a reliable source said on Tuesday.

A security guard on duty at the Constitution Court, which will rule on a petition that calls for an injunction against the government's charter amendment on the structure of the Senate. (Photo by Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)

The source close to the issue said the court will make a decision on the call for an injunction against the charter amendment after it accepted the petition for consideration on Sept 25.

Senator Somjate Boonthanom led a group of lawmakers to file the petition and ask for an injunction against the changes last week.

The petition centres on whether a government proposed charter amendment seeking to alter the composition of the Senate violates Section 68 of the constitution, which states no person shall overthrow the constitutional monarchy or seize power to rule the country through unconstitutional means.

The amendment would allow for a fully elected Senate, by putting an end to the use of appointed senators.

The amendment sailed through its third and final reading on Saturday and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is expected to forward it for royal endorsement within 20 days.

Suranand Vejjajiva, the prime minister's secretary general, said Ms Yingluck had put her signature on the amendment, and the Cabinet Secretariat and the State Council are working on the finalising the document. The secretariat is in contact with the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary on the issue, he added.

Mr Suranand said the amendment had been drafted constitutionally and affirmed the government's plan to forward it to His Majesty for approval without waiting for the court ruling on the petition.

Aside from the petition, the government is facing pressure from the People's Democratic Force to Overthrow Thaksinism.

Around 500 members of Pefot gathered at Government House on Tuesday and demanded Ms Yingluck refrain from forwarding the charter amendment to the King.

Pefot leaders Gen Preecha Iamsuphan and Taikorn Polsuwan submitted a letter outlining their position to the prime minister through her deputy secretary general Suporn Atthawong.

They said parliament's passing of the amendment in its third reading violated the constitution and promised to stage an anti-government protest if the charter change is not stopped.

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT (3)