The House committee studying charter amendments requires another 90 days to complete its work due to the delay caused by the Covid-19 outbreak, with its focus now on seeking changes to charter provisions regarding independent agencies.
Committee chairman Pirapan Salirathavibhaga said that the committee met for the first time yesterday after having to cancel meetings due to the outbreak.
Therefore, the committee will ask House Speaker Chuan Leekpai to extend the deadline by 90 days to June 25, he said.
Pheu Thai MP for Maha Sarakham Sutin Klungsang, who is spokesman for the committee, said that the committee will try to finish its work before the deadline.
The committee also concluded that it is not appropriate to gather public opinions on charter amendment at the moment due to the Covid-19 situation, but some committee members made observations that the format of such forums in future should be designed to allow more public participation, Mr Sutin said.
Mr Sutin also said that the committee is currently considering charter provisions regarding independent agencies, and most committee members have agreed that the selection of members of independent agencies is problematic, with too little public participation.
They also shared the view that independent agencies have increasing powers, but there are no mechanisms to scrutinise them, Mr Sutin said.
In light of this, the committee agreed that a checks-and-balances system should also be introduced in the constitution, he said.
"Agencies that have a lot of power and can make decisions that have wide repercussions must be subject to more scrunity. But so far, this [lack of such mechanisms] has been our weakness. Therefore, if the constitution is to be amended, such mechanisms must be included," Mr Sutin said.