FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
nationthailand

CDC remains concerned about qualifications of anti-corruption commissioners

CDC remains concerned about qualifications of anti-corruption commissioners

The Constitution Drafting Commission has expressed concern about the qualifications of the National Anti-Corruption Commissioners, who have been spared as a result of the enactment of the new NACC bill, said National Legislative Assembly president Pornpetch Wichitcholchai on Friday.

Pornpetch said the CDC wished to forward the issue to the Constitutional Court for a ruling, but the NACC has not yet submitted its comments on the bill to the NLA. The NLA is choosing to wait for the NACC comments before proceeding.
Under Thailand’s new charter, an organic bill that has been endorsed by the NLA is to be forwarded to concerned parties to consider its constitutionality and provide comments. If differences emerge, a joint law review committee would be set up to consider them before the NLA again votes on the bill. The Constitutional Court could then be petitioned as the last resort.
The NACC’s nine current commissioners were allowed to keep their posts under the new organic bill governing the agency, which was passed by the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) in late December. The bill also extended their terms to nine years. 
Criticism has centred on a cause related to qualifying criteria for the NACC, which they say is at odds with a fundamental principle set by the CDC which states that only those qualified by the new Constitution could keep their positions. 
The legislators endorsed it nonetheless, with 157 to 26 votes, while 29 others abstained. 
The NLA then voted 198 to 1 to pass it after two-and-a-half days of deliberation.

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