Five coalition parties announce go-ahead to amend Constitution

BANGKOK, Feb 2 (TNA) – Five coalition parties allied with Thailand’s Abhisit Vejjajiva government announced on Tuesday that a motion to amend the constitution will be presented to the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

The announcement was made jointly by leaders of five junior coalition parties–Chavarat Charnvirakul of Bhumjaithai, Chumpol Silpa-archa of Chart Thai Pattana, Charnchai Chairungruang of Puea Pandin, Wannarat Charnnukul of Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana, and Suwit Khunkitti of the Social Action party–after meeting at a Bangkok hotel.

Mr Chumpol told a press conference afterward that the five parties agreed to try to amend Article 94 on the electoral system to move to a one-MP constituency election system and Article 190 which requires the government to seek parliamentary approval before signing international agreements.

He said the single-MP system would benefit the people more than a multi-MP constituency system as voters would have an equal right to for one MP and it would be easy to monitor the vote buying.

Members of parliament would have closer relations to the voters in their constituencies, he said.

As for Article 190, Mr Chumpol said the requirement did not clearly detail which agreements must be approved, and which was not under the requirement.

The lack of detail reduced the benefit and damaged Thailand’s dignity in the international arena, and should be changed to make the constitution work more effectively, he said.

Mr Chumpol said the five parties already had more than one-fifth of MPs in the House backing the motion as required by the constitution however, the five parties still hope to get support from the Democrat Party, the main coalition part, and senators to get the amendment done.

The five parties are set to submit the motion to the House Speaker Chai Chidchob Wednesday at 10am.

Democrat Party executives meeting last month resolved not to join the move to amend the constitution with other coalition parties but once the motion is filed in the House, its MPs will decide whether to vote for or against the motion. (TNA)