House approves Public Referendum Bill

BANGKOK, 23 September 2009 (NNT) – The House of Representatives endorsed the Public Referendum Bill as earlier revised by a joint scrutiny committee.

The amended bill has been passed with the vote of 243-23 after two-hours debate. The essence of the House approved-bill states that a public referendum is required to be organized within 90 to 120 days from the day of its enforcement with the publishing in the Royal Gazette, and the official result of the referendum will be based upon the vote of majority of all eligible voters.

In addition, all eligible voters have the rights to petition to the Administrative Court for the illegitimacy of a referendum within 30 days from the voting date. The bill will be later presented to the Senate for further deliberation before submitting to the Constitutional Court for the final deliberation.