The Parliament is scheduled to meet on February 13th and 14th to debate amendments to Article 256 of the current Constitution, paving the way for the crafting of a new charter by a Constitution Drafting Assembly.
Senator Phisit Apiwattanapong, secretary-general of the Senate whips, said today that the government, opposition and the senate whips have agreed that the debate will take 18 hours, with government MPs, opposition MPs and senators being allocated six hours to speak.
The debate will focus on two charter amendment bills, one proposed by the ruling Pheu Thai party and the other by the opposition People’s party.
Senator Phisit said that he personally disagrees with the writing of a complete new Constitution, as he would prefer amendment of the current charter article by article.
There are 493 MPs and 199 senators. The debate will start at 9.30am and end at 10pm on the first day. On the second day it will end at 3pm, after which there will be a roll call vote.
Today, Prime Minister’s Office Minister Chusak Sirinil, who is also the deputy leader of the Pheu Thai party, said that he has suggested to the government whips that the Constitutional Court be consulted first, as to whether a new charter can be drafted without a referendum first, in accordance with Article 210.
He said that senators or MPs could seek a ruling from the Constitutional Court before the parliamentary debate commences, or even during the debate, adding that he is concerned that, without the court’s input, many senators and MPs may abstain from voting, which would result in the collapse of the bid to draft a new charter during this parliamentary session.
