Bangkok: Political observer Thepthai Senpong has called on the Thai government to stop using the ongoing Middle East conflict as an excuse to delay constitutional amendments. He emphasized that governance should balance economic well-being with political responsibilities and urged the government to respect the 21 million votes cast in favor of amending the constitution.
According to Thai News Agency, Thepthai expressed his concerns through a Facebook post on his page, "Thepthai - Political Talk," where he highlighted the adverse effects of the Middle East conflict on Thailand's economy, particularly in the oil and natural gas sectors. Despite these challenges, he insisted that the government should not overlook the political mandate to amend the constitution, which was supported by a significant portion of the Thai population in a recent referendum.
Thepthai criticized the government's current focus on economic hardships and energy issues while neglecting the constitutional amendments. When questioned by reporters, the government's chief whip admitted that priority was being given to economic and energy problems, as well as the Middle East conflict. However, Thepthai argued that political and economic issues could be addressed simultaneously, urging the government to fulfill its responsibilities in all areas.
He pointed out that the government's policy statement to the joint parliamentary session included few references to constitutional amendments, and Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's justification that it was unnecessary to include them due to the referendum was insufficient. Thepthai stressed that respecting the referendum results and setting a timeline for constitutional amendments is crucial for the government to demonstrate commitment to the people's will.
Thepthai urged the government to draft a new constitution during its term, warning that failure to do so would render the referendum meaningless. He argued that a new constitution, reflecting the people's consensus, would facilitate progress in resolving Thailand's economic, political, and social challenges. The government, he contended, has a duty to prioritize the constitutional amendments and should not hide behind economic excuses.