Government whips will propose a joint sitting of parliament on Nov 13 for a general debate to find a way out of the amnesty bill impasse, chief whip Amnuay Khlangpha said on Monday.
The Democrat party's demand that the bill be removed from parliamentary consideration by 6pm today is not possible, Mr Amnuay said after a meeting of government whips.
He said it is not possible for the government to follow the opposition's demand to withdraw the controversial amnesty bill from the Senate.
Mr Amnuay said he sought advice from parliament's legal office, which said this would be in breach of the constitution because the legislation has proceeded beyond that step. The House of Representatives must certify it was financial legislation before sending it to the prime minister for acknowledgement, allowing it to be dropped.
Mr Amnuay said he, therefore, would propose a joint sitting of the Senate and the House of Representatives on Nov 13 for a general debate without requiring a vote to find a way out of the impasse under Section 179 of the constitution.
Anti-amnesty protesters led by the Democrat Party have demanded that the bill be taken out of parliament by 6pm Monday, or the government will face "consequences".
The first Senate reading of the amnesty bill is underway, with the meeting expected to continue to well into the night before any vote.
If rejected by the Senate it would be returned to the House, to sit on the table for 180 days before it can be resurrected.