NLA to vote on provisions for impeachment of lawmakers

NLA directives drafting committee spokesman Tuang Untachai said yesterday that the committee had completed the draft, which features 17 chapters and one transitory provision made up of 221 Articles, most of which were similar to the 2006 Assembly’s directives.

Tuang said the draft also included provisions on the termination of NLA membership, which stipulated that members who fail to attend NLA meetings to vote at one-third of meetings held in a 90 day period would face having their membership terminated unless the NLA chairman gave them permission.

The NLA comprises 16 standing committees plus a whip committee. Each member is allowed to take positions in two committees at most and can take the committee chairperson post in one committee.

As the interim charter stipulates that members serve both as a senator and an MP, they can impeach political office-holders. 

Tuang said the drafting committee did not intend to include this chapter to impeach any official in particular but was bound to include it because senators have an impeachment responsibility.

The provisions on impeachment have four parts. 

The first part features impeachment proceedings in accordance with the National Anti-Corruption Law, which is the constitution organic law. 

This part also touches on details about complaints, accused political office-holders and damaged parties. It also features the timeframe of impeachment proceedings. 

The second part features impeachment in accordance with other laws such as the National Human Rights Commission law and public prosecutor laws.

The third part identifies who can seek impeachment and stipulates that those who are entitled to seek impeachment can request Parliament launch impeachment proceedings against officials in accordance with the constitution organic law on the auditor general, the anti-money laundering law, the frequency regulators and the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission law, as well as other related laws. 

This part also identifies impeachment procedures.

The last part features impeachment decisions. The draft identifies how Parliament carries out impeachment proceedings and votes to terminate the membership of political office-holders in accordance with the laws mentioned above.

The draft also stipulates that Parliament calls a secret vote. After the vote is called, the Parliament president reveals the decision to the National Anti-Corruption Commission or related agencies, the accused and impeachment officials including the Cabinet secretary-general.