Pheu Thai MPs resolve to deny Constitutional Court's power
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MPs from the ruling Pheu Thai Party resolved Tuesday to deny the authority of the Constitutional Court in hearing a new case against parliamentarians supporting constitutional amendment, party spokesman Prompong Nopparit said.
They also agreed to send a 12-page open letter to all independent agencies, except the court, later this week to explain why they believe that the court has no power to hear the new case, according to the spokesman. The MPs are convinced that the legislators are entitled by the Constitution to make changes to the charter.
A group of lawmakers recently proposed amendment to Article 68 that would prevent public members from petitioning directly with the Constitutional Court. A group of complainants later filed a petition with the court, accusing the lawmakers of attempting to overthrow the country’s democratic regime through constitutional changes. The court accepted the petition for trial, which led to strong opposition by Pheu Thai MPs and their red-shirt supporters and their legal confrontation with the court.
The Pheu Thai spokesman said that if the Constitutional Court continues with the case, the party’s MPs would begin their move to impeach the court’s judges. He said that more than 100 MPs have signed a petition for impeachment.
He said that in denying the court’s authority, none of the Pheu Thai MPs – including House Speaker Somsak Kiartsuranond – would present their explanation to the court, in response to the petition against them.
