ID :
151255
Fri, 11/26/2010 - 10:19
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/151255
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Two government backed constitution amendment drafts pass first hurdle
BANGKOK, Nov 26 -- Thailand's joint session of Parliament on Thursday passed the first reading of the two drafts of constitutional amendments as proposed by the Democrat-led coalition government, but the opposition Puea Thai Party refused to participate in any process of amending the charter.
The parliamentary meeting voted for the Cabinet's proposed draft of the constitutional amendment related to the election system by a 330-156 vote, with 34 MPs and senators abstaining.
The Cabinet's other amendment draft, seeking changes to Article 190 regarding the requirement for parliamentary approval for international agreements, passed the first hurdle with 354 votes for, 19 against and 17 abstentions.
After the voting, a 45-member committee was set up consisting of senators and MPs from coalition parties, though without any Puea Thai MPs, to scrutinise the two drafts within 15 days before resubmission to the joint session of parliament for a second reading.
The second reading is expected in February when parliament reconvenes. The present session will end on Sunday.
The passage of the government drafts comes after the joint sitting of parliament rejected two other drafts: one backed by the Puea Thai Party and the other by a group of 102 coalition MPs.
There are 470 MPs and 150 senators. Each amendment requires at least 311 votes to pass the first reading.
The previous two drafts failed to receive the required support of 311 votes.
Thursday's voting began with the draft of the People’s Committee for Amending the 2007 Constitution led by United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) leader Dr Weng, proposed in 2008 and similar to the now-scrapped 1997 Constitution. But only 222 MPs and senators voted for it, 235 voted against and 123 abstained.
The second draft, proposed by 102 coalition party MPs, also failed to pass its first reading with only 148 lawmakers voting for it, while 177 of them rejected it and 212 abstained.
Most opposition Puea Thai Party MPs were absent for the vote as earlier announced by key opposition leaders who said they would walk out of the joint session and not join the charter amendment process if Dr Weng's draft was rejected.
The Puea Thai Party refused to name representatives for the vetting committee, stating the party disagreed with the government-sponsored drafts from the outset. (MCOT online news)
The parliamentary meeting voted for the Cabinet's proposed draft of the constitutional amendment related to the election system by a 330-156 vote, with 34 MPs and senators abstaining.
The Cabinet's other amendment draft, seeking changes to Article 190 regarding the requirement for parliamentary approval for international agreements, passed the first hurdle with 354 votes for, 19 against and 17 abstentions.
After the voting, a 45-member committee was set up consisting of senators and MPs from coalition parties, though without any Puea Thai MPs, to scrutinise the two drafts within 15 days before resubmission to the joint session of parliament for a second reading.
The second reading is expected in February when parliament reconvenes. The present session will end on Sunday.
The passage of the government drafts comes after the joint sitting of parliament rejected two other drafts: one backed by the Puea Thai Party and the other by a group of 102 coalition MPs.
There are 470 MPs and 150 senators. Each amendment requires at least 311 votes to pass the first reading.
The previous two drafts failed to receive the required support of 311 votes.
Thursday's voting began with the draft of the People’s Committee for Amending the 2007 Constitution led by United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) leader Dr Weng, proposed in 2008 and similar to the now-scrapped 1997 Constitution. But only 222 MPs and senators voted for it, 235 voted against and 123 abstained.
The second draft, proposed by 102 coalition party MPs, also failed to pass its first reading with only 148 lawmakers voting for it, while 177 of them rejected it and 212 abstained.
Most opposition Puea Thai Party MPs were absent for the vote as earlier announced by key opposition leaders who said they would walk out of the joint session and not join the charter amendment process if Dr Weng's draft was rejected.
The Puea Thai Party refused to name representatives for the vetting committee, stating the party disagreed with the government-sponsored drafts from the outset. (MCOT online news)
