Today’s joint sitting of the House and Senate, to debate two proposed constitutional amendment bills, collapsed due to the lack of a quorum again.
The meeting resumed this morning and legislators engaged in a debate for about 20 minutes, before Parliament President Wan Muhamad Noor Matha halted the proceedings to consider a motion for a head count, from People’s party MP Pakornwut Udompipatsakul.
Government, Opposition and Senate whips then held a closed door meeting to discuss ways to break the deadlock and allow the debate to proceed.
After the brief discussion, the head count started. It showed that there were 175 legislators from the two houses in the meeting chamber, which is far short of the 310 needed to constitute a quorum.
Parliament President Wan Muhamad Noor Matha then ordered the meeting to be adjourned.
People’s party MP Rangsiman Rome asked for a second head count, but this was rejected by the Parliament President.
The collapse of the meetings to debate charter amendments two days in a row is a clear indication that the attempt, by both the
Pheu Thai and People’s parties, to write a new charter during the current parliamentary session has been dashed.
