Last two organic bills submitted to NLA
The final two organic bills were submitted to the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) yesterday ahead of the 240-day deadline set by the Constitution.
Chief charter writer Meechai Ruchupan said yesterday he was “relieved” after submitting all 10 bills to the NLA, meeting the deadline set for early December.
The last two bills relate to Members of Parliament and the Senate, Meechai said.
After the NLA agreed on the principles of the bills, the Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) would send some representatives to discuss the legislation with the assembly, he added.
Meechai admitted there were controversies surrounding the last two bills. However, the CDC had followed the Constitution and stuck to its intention to make every vote meaningful. The new organic law on MPs would see the use of a single-ballot system, he said.
He dismissed criticism that the new election method favoured medium-sized parties, saying the intention of the Constitution was to give importance to the people’s votes.
As for the Senate bill, the drafter said the CDC had adhered to the cross-election process.
Asked about the CDC’s future, Meechai said that although the Constitution prescribed that the CDC should be dissolved after the completion of the 10 bills, it had some work left to do and would convene once or twice a week.