Charter panel fails to make much headway
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The House of Representatives committee in charge of vetting the charter amendment bill convened yesterday but failed to make headway despite the looming deadline for completion.
Committee chairman Samart Kaewmechai adjourned the meeting after the debate became fiery and scheduled an extra session next Thursday in a bid to meet the March 25 deadline.
After the last session saw the vetting of two draft provisions, Pheu Thai and Democrat MPs kicked off the session by picking up two provisions.
The two sides were not able agree on the draft provision related to the referendum vote for the new charter, prompting Samart to suspend the debate.
The meeting then turned to the draft provision on the composition of the Constitution Drafting Assembly.
The Democrats, including Suthas Ngernmuen and Thepthai Senpong, want all CDA members to be elected, while the ruling party is insisting that some be elected and others chosen from a pool of academics.
As the deadlock continued, Samart ended the meeting without calling for a vote.
Speaking before the meeting was held, coalition chief whip Udomdej Rattanasatien had voiced optimism about the nine draft provisions being completed within the deadline.
PM’s Office Minister Woravat Auapinyakul said, however, that the passage of the bill might not be possible within the current House session, which ends on April 18.
Woravat pinned the blame on the Democrats for raising “frivolous arguments” as a delay tactic.
He said he was not certain whether the government would seek an extraordinary House session for the final two readings of the bill or wait for the next session.
Should the extraordinary session be convened, the Democrats are entitled to file for a censure debate focusing on the government’s code of ethics.
