Referendum on charter still on table

Referendum on charter still on table

Motion calling for rewrite 'not dropped'

Sutin: 'Motion remains intact'
Sutin: 'Motion remains intact'

The opposition-sponsored motion seeking a referendum on the charter rewrite remains intact and can be tabled for a vote after parliament convenes in November, said chief opposition whip Sutin Klungsang.

Mr Sutin said the motion, which was proposed by two opposition MPs and put up for a vote on Thursday, was not considered to have been dropped after the meeting was brought to an abrupt end.

The motion involves asking the government to hold a public referendum on the charter rewrite with a suggestion that the proposed plebiscite be held on the day the next general election takes place, which is expected early next year.

After a debate in which most MPs agreed with the motion, a vote was taken.

A total of 230 MPs voted with 217 voting in favour with six against and seven abstentions.

Deputy House speaker Supachai Phosu announced the motion had been successfully passed, but some MPs expressed concerns that only 230 MPs decided to participate in the vote and the number was short of the regular meeting quorum.

When the meeting kicked off, a total of 242 MPs were present; however, it needed 236 to meet the quorum.

They said the motion could run into legal problems later and suggested that the meeting should be adjourned and the motion postponed until a later date.

Mr Supachai did not make a ruling and declared the meeting adjourned.

This raised the question of whether the motion had ultimately been dropped.

Mr Sutin said yesterday the motion remains intact and can be put up for a vote in the next parliamentary session sometime in November. The current session ends tomorrow.

The motion was proposed verbally as being urgent by Move Forward Party MP Nattapong Ruangpanyawut and Pheu Thai MP Jullapan Amornwiwat.

Several MPs spoke in favour of the motion and pointed out that the 2017 charter was designed in a way that made amendments extremely difficult.

They said it featured multiple conditions including that at least one-quarter of all senators, or 84, must vote for a charter amendment bill for it to be valid.

Veerakorn Kamprakob, an MP for Nakhon Sawan from the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), said the current charter is riddled with flaws and a new one needs to be written.

He said one major flaw is a provisional clause that allows the military-appointed Senate to join MPs in selecting the prime minister.

"I've said since it was promulgated that the charter is not fair and does not put the people first," said Mr Veerakorn.

The 2017 charter was adopted in an August 2016 referendum.

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