A Pheu Thai MP yesterday proposed the terms of appointed senators be terminated when the charter amendments take effect.
Sunai: People chosen ‘undemocratically’
Sunai Jullapongsathorn issued the proposal before a parliament committee scrutinising a charter amendment bill, which had passed its first parliament reading.
One of the proposed amendments seeks to have all Senate positions decided by election.
Under current rules, senators can be appointed or elected, with the incumbent batch of appointed senators having three years left in office.
The majority of the committee agreed to increase the number of senators to 200 and to have all positions decided by election.
There are currently 150 senators, comprising one elected member from each province and the rest appointed by a selection committee.
Mr Sunai said the terms of the appointed senators should end when the charter changes take effect, as the incumbents are part of a group of people who came to power through "undemocratic" means.
He was making reference to the senators' appointments after the Sept 19, 2006 coup.
His proposal drew criticism from opposition MPs who said the appointed senators should be allowed to complete their terms.
The proposal will be further discussed in next week's meeting.
Meanwhile, a committee minority yesterday proposed that a by-election should not be called if a senator leaves his or her job within the final 180 days of the term.
Earlier, the majority agreed that the Senate should have the option whether to call an election to fill a vacant spot if a senator quits during the final 180 days of his or her term of office.
A representative from the Council of State explained the by-election option should be retained as protection against the event that a large number of senators leave office en masse, which could lead to a lack of a quorum at Senate meetings.