Three charter amendment bills clear first reading
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The three bills seeking to amend four provisions of the Constitution were approved in the first reading early Thursday.
The bill that seeks to require all senators to be elected was approved with 367 votes with 204 MPs and senators voting against it and 34 others abstaining.
The bill that seeks to amend Article 190 was passed with 274 votes while 209 MPs and senators voted against it and 22 others abstained.
The bill that seeks to amend Article 68 and 237 was approved with 274 votes with 206 MPs and senators abstaining and 25 others abstaining.
The threeday debate on the bills continued until 11.45pm Wednesday night when Pathum Thani Senator Paibul Samsiripong proposed an end to the debate, prompting strong protests from the Democrat Party.
Democrat MPs tried to point out debate should continue for eight more hours as initially agreed upon by coalition and opposition whips. Strong protests prompted Parliament President Somsak Kiartsuranon to suspend the meeting and resume it at 20 minutes after midnight.
After the majority of MPs and senators voted to end the debate, the vote was done in a roll call. Each of the 428 MPs and senators present was asked whether he or she accepted the principle of three bills in one call. The voting was carried out at 1.30am Thursday.
The Parliament set up three panels of 45 MPs and senators to vet each of the bills in 30 days before they would be sent back to the Parliament for the second reading.
The panels will begin their first meeting on Thursday.
