Ten bills seeking to amend two organic laws crucial for conducting a new, dual-ballot election are being lined up for a first reading vote in parliament on Thursday.
They require more than 262 votes, or half of members from both Houses, to clear the first reading.
The 10 bills -- four slated for amendment of the organic law on the election of MPs and six aimed at rewriting the political parties law -- are sponsored by the MPs of various parties. The four bills were initiated respectively by the cabinet; Pheu Thai Party leader Cholnan Srikaew; Wichian Chavalit, the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) list MP and coalition parties; and Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat.
The six bills seeking to amend the parties law were sponsored in turn by the cabinet; Dr Cholnan and others; Col Tawee Sodsong, list MP and secretary-general of the Prachachat Party; coalition parties; Mr Pita and others; and Anant Pol-amnuay, the PPRP MP for Kamphaeng Phet.
Meanwhile, senators have denied they were moving to shoot down the two organic laws vital for conducting a new, dual-ballot election. Senator Wanchai Sornsiri dismissed claims that the Senate planned to sink the organic laws on the election of MPs and political parties. The laws are being amended to prepare the ground for future general elections conducted under a dual-ballot system.
Concerns have been heightened about the fate of the organic laws after Senator Kittisak Rattanawaraha on Tuesday vowed never to let bills initiated by the opposition aimed at amending the laws see the light of day. Mr Kittisak said the bill sponsored by opposition Pheu Thai Party was bent on allowing an outsider to dominate a party.
Mr Wanchai said the senators would only vote on bills that are relevant to a dual-ballot election. He and Senator Lertrat Rattanawanich denied the Senate intended to vote down the organic laws so the country could revert to using the single-ballot poll.