Cabinet, Chart Thai Pattana explain reasons behind proposed amendments
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The Cabinet, coalition partner Chart Thai Pattana Party and its MP Somsak Prisananathakul have provided documents clarifying how their Constitution amendment proposals would not go against the current charter, Constitution Court deputy spokesperson Somrit
However, the Parliament, Pheu Thai Party and its MP Sunai Chulpongsatorn have yet to provide the documentation, he said. The 15-day deadline runs out today for Chart Thai Pattana Party, and the one for Pheu Thai runs out tomorrow.
Though there is no penalty for not sending clarifications in time, the party would need to provide good reason for its tardiness and it would depend on the court as to whether it accepts these documents, Somrit said.
The clarification is meant for lawsuits filed by several groups, including the Democrats asking the Constitution Court to consider if any of the proposals could be deemed as wanting to overthrow the country’s democratic system with a constitutional monarchy according to Article 68 of the 2007 Constitution.
In response to Sunai’s query as to why political parties are included as defendants even though it is the MPs who proposed the drafts, Somrit said the court had to notify defendants as per plaintiffs, who accused the political parties as being behind the law draft. The court provided this information to the Parliament president to disseminate among members.
