Devolution bill falls at 1st reading

Devolution bill falls at 1st reading

A bill seeking to amend the constitution to decentralise power to local administration organisations was rejected by parliament in its first reading yesterday.

The bill sought to amend Chapter 14, which deals with local administration.

It was proposed by Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, chairman of the Progressive Movement, backed by a petition signed by 76,591 eligible voters.

A joint parliamentary sitting accepted the bill for deliberation with a vote of 254 in favour, while 245 voted against it, with 129 abstentions.

However, the bill failed to secure the support of at least half of the 722 parliamentarians needed to get through the first reading as required by the constitution.

It also failed to secure the required support of at least one-third -- 83 -- of the 249 senators.

In light of this, the bill was technically rejected by parliament, according to Parliament President Chuan Leekpai.

According to a source, most MPs from the opposition bloc voted in support of the bill, except some renegade MPs who plan to soon join parties in the government camp.

As for MPs in the government camp, some from the ruling Palang Pracharath Party voted against, while Democrat Party MPs voted in favour and MPs from the Bhumjaithai Party abstained, the source said.

The thrust of the bill was to decentralise power and allow local organisations more freedom in aspects of governance.

These included the power to operate public services, allocating them 50% of state revenues and allowing them to generate more income.

The bill also called for a referendum to be held within five years to allow voters to decide whether provincial governors and district chiefs should be scrapped.

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