House ethics committee to look into voting scandal
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House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont on Thursday said a hearing would be convened to look into the scandal which a number of coalition MPs had asked their colleagues to cast electronic vote on their behalf although they were not actually in the chamber durin
To cast vote, MPs have to insert an official identification card into a balloting slot. The scandal broke after certain senators and MPs cried foul that some Pheu Thai MPs were not present but could vote by surrendering their IDs.
Somsak said he doubted if the scandal would void the vote on the charter amendment bill, arguing the majority support for the bill should outpace a few invalid ballots.
He said the opposition had the right to petition the Constitution Court for a judicial review on the issue but he did not think the court battle would alter the passage of the bill.
The second reading of the bill is in progress for eight days, he said, revealing that the debate will adjourn for the weekend and resume on Monday.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said all sides should check the facts before drawing a conclusion on the scandal.
The Nation
