Charter amendments to come 'when time is right': Udomdej
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Chief coalition whip Udomdej Rattanasatien on Wednesday confirmed that the Pheu Thai Party had resolved to slow down its push for charter amendments.
“The coalition will delay the charter amendments until the time is right," he said.
Earlier, the main coalition party planned to sponsor a motion to rewrite the charter at today’s reconvening of the House session following recess.
Udomdej said Pheu Thai MPs might air their individual views on the charter rewrite without reflecting the coalition's stand.
“The charter will be amended because the rewrite is for progress and not regression,” he said, insisting the coalition will decide at a later date the right time to activate the rewrite.
He hinted that the coalition would not object should government MPs try make individual efforts to amend the charter. Many see his remarks as a green light for red-leaning MPs to still make a separate push for charter amendments.
Dr Weng Toji-rakarn, a party-list MP of the ruling Pheu Thai Party, said earlier draft legislation to amend the charter is now ready for Cabinet consideration.
There will also be a national assembly of charter drafters, called Sor Sor Lor 3, similar to two previous assemblies set up to draft the 1997 and 2007 charters.
Ex-premier Thaksin, the older brother of Prime Minister Yingluck, reportedly hopes that a sweeping revamp of the current charter will re-set his political time machine. His wish is that the after-effects of the 2006 coup that overthrew his government will be nullified via the constitutional amendment being prepared by his sister’s administration.
