Coalition to defy court order on bill deliberation: chief govt whip
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The chief government whip Wednesday insisted that the coalition and senators would press ahead with the deliberation of a bill seeks to amend Article 68 even if the Constitution issues an injunction to suspend the deliberation.
Chief government whip Amnuay Klungpha was referring to a petition filed by Senator Somchai Sawaengkarn with the Constitution Court against amendment to Article 68. Somchai asked the court to issue an injunction against the deliberation of the amendment bill, whose first reading began on Monday.
Amnuay insisted that parliamentarians had authority to deliberate the amendment bill.
“Even if the Constitution Court decides to proceed with the judicial review of the petition or issues an injunction to suspend the deliberation, we, parliamentarians, must insist on out duty to go on deliberating the bill I the first reading,” Amnuay said.
“It is expected that the vote for the first reading will be made at 10 pm.”
Amnuay said the decision should not be regarded as a disobeying of the court order but parliamentarians must insist on their right to carry out their constitutional duty.
Amnuay said if the Constitution Court decides to review the petition against the Article 68 amendment, the coalition whips would present the voting results and tape of debate for the court to consider as evidences of supporters of the amendment.
The Pheu Thailed coalition plans to amend Article 68 to require that the people submit their petitions to the Constitution Court via the Office of the Attorney General.
