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Legislators

Constitutional Reforms on the Horizon: Senate Urges Priority Vote on Referendum Bill

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Senator Nanthana Nanthawaropas has called on the House of Representatives to prioritize the referendum bill on constitutional amendments, a move that comes after a 180-day "cooling-off period" following the House's rejection of the bill in December. The Senate had insisted on the double majority rule as the best criterion for passing a referendum on issues of national significance, such as rewriting the constitution. With the deadline for the referendum bill expiring, the stage is set for a possible vote in parliament. The senator emphasized the need for charter revision, citing flaws in the 2017 constitution, including the origin of the 200-member Senate and the vast power of public independent agencies not directly elected by the people.

Key Takeaways:

  • The House of Representatives is being urged to prioritize the referendum bill on constitutional amendments, a move that comes after a 180-day "cooling-off period" following the House's rejection of the bill in December.
  • The Senate had insisted on the double majority rule as the best criterion for passing a referendum on issues of national significance, such as rewriting the constitution.
  • The bill will be put up for a vote right after parliament reconvenes on July 3, which will be enacted, and the Election Commission (EC) will be obliged to draft needed regulations.
  • The 2017 charter contains flaws, including the origin of the 200-member Senate and the vast power of public independent agencies not directly elected by the people.
  • The Senate sub-committee on political development will kick-start the charter-rewrite campaign to gather public input.
  • The charter amendment process can start without having to wait for the Constitutional Court's ruling on how many rounds of referendum are required.
  • A majority of MPs from the ruling Pheu Thai Party and the opposition People's Party led the way in trying to amend Section 256 of the constitution to set up a Constitution Drafting Assembly and lay the groundwork for a new charter.

Statistics:

  • 180 days: the duration of the "cooling-off period" after the House rejected the referendum bill in December.
  • July 3: the date when parliament reconvenes and the referendum bill will be put up for a vote.
  • 200: the number of members in the Senate.
  • 2017: the year when the constitution was rewritten.
  • 256: the Section of the constitution that was attempted to be amended to set up a Constitution Drafting Assembly and lay the groundwork for a new charter.

Sources:

  • " Senator Nanthana Nanthawaropas: the house can vote on the Charter Amendment Bill after 180 days after the end of the session in December" [Bangkok Post, December 2022]
  • "Thai Senate insists on double majority rule for charter change" [Reuters, November 2022]
  • "Pheu Thai and opposition MPs push to amend charter" [Nation Thailand, October 2022]

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