Democrats to petition Constitutional Court for legal interpretation of amnesty bill

Abhiisit argued that the vetting process of the bill was unconstitutional and that the House Speaker's actions undermined public confidence in the parliamentary system. He also urged the Senate to oppose the bill and said his party will file a petition to the Constitutional Court for legal interpretation once the Upper House finishes vetting the bill.

Abhisit made the statement hours after the special session of the House of Representatives voted 310-0 to pass the third reading of the bill early Friday. Four Pheu Thai MPs- Natthawut Saikaur, Weng Tojirakarn, Worachai Hema, Khattiya Kattipol - abstained from the voting. 

The House meeting came to an end at 4.20am. The third reading passed after 19 hours of heated debate and protests that interrupted the meeting. Many Democrat MPs booed and jeered as they vented their anger at the ruling Pheu Thai MPs for their attempts to ram the bill through. 

The protests failed to deter House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont who insisted on swift and continuous voting on articles of the bill, which sailed through the second and third readings. The House Speaker formally closed the session at 4.25am.

The bill will be forwarded to the Senate for further consideration.