Bangkok: The Bhumjaithai Party has announced its decision to have its MPs withdraw their names from the Pheu Thai Party's draft for constitutional amendment, citing potential legal violations as a key concern. The Pheu Thai Party is apprehensive that establishing a Constitutional Drafting Assembly (CDA) through direct elections could breach the Constitutional Court's ruling.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Nikorn Chamnong, a Bhumjaithai Party list MP and member of the party's working group on drafting a new constitution, clarified the rationale behind the party's decision. He explained that the Bhumjaithai Party initially agreed to co-sign the constitutional amendment draft with the Pheu Thai Party after the latter gathered 77 MPs in support. With Bhumjaithai's initial backing, the aim was to reach the necessary 100 signatures required to submit the amendment. However, after the Pheu Thai Party amassed 189 signatures, Bhumjaithai conducted a thorough review and identified potential conflicts with Constitutional Court ruling 18/2568, which prohibits the public from directly electing constitution drafters.
Mr. Nikorn emphasized that although the Pheu Thai Party had enough signatures to proceed, Bhumjaithai advised its members to withdraw their endorsements. He expressed concerns over the submission of two differing drafts, arguing that such a move might appear insincere and counterproductive to the goal of constitutional finalization. Nikorn likened the situation to indecisiveness, urging for a clear and singular approach to amending the constitution.
Addressing worries about a single party dominating the constitutional drafting process, Mr. Nikorn dismissed these as speculative. He warned that if a CDA were elected directly, the process might be undermined by legal challenges and could breach the government's constitutional commitments. He reaffirmed the importance of public approval through a referendum, underscoring that the ultimate power rests with the people, who have the authority to reject proposals through direct voting.