Bangkok: Pheu Thai Party is advancing plans to draft an amendment to Chapter 15 of the constitution, aiming for the indirect selection of members for the Constituent Assembly. Mr. Chusak Sirinil, a party-list MP and deputy leader of the Pheu Thai Party, announced that the proposal involves selecting approximately 140 members from 200 provincial representatives, which will then be narrowed down to 100 by Parliament, with additional representation from various organizations.
According to Thai News Agency, Chusak emphasized the need for a Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) where members will not be directly elected but instead selected by the House, ensuring no risk of collusion as seen in the past senator selections. The assembly will include representatives from different sectors, such as academia, local government, and professional bodies, with particular emphasis on democratic and participatory representation.
The proposal outlines two parts for selection: provinces will choose 200 representatives, from which Parliament will select 100 members, ensuring a minimum of one member per province. Additionally, the draft will involve input from various organizations, including legal and political science faculties, the media, and student representatives, aiming for a diverse assembly.
Chusak mentioned that the legal team is working on drafting the bill, anticipating a review on September 19th. The party has yet to finalize details about the referendum question concerning Sections 1 and 2, pending the completion of Section 15. The goal is for the new constitution to be comprehensive and publicly endorsed through a referendum.
While addressing the Senate’s role, Chusak stated that it is not the duty of Pheu Thai to ensure Senate agreement but rather to seek their support for a new constitution. The party is aiming for at least 67 votes or one-third of the Senate for the proposal to pass.
Chusak also addressed concerns about the Constituent Assembly resembling the Senate’s selection process, highlighting that assembly members will be elected by the people in their provinces. The process is designed to enhance public participation and ensure the constitution reflects the people’s will.
Regarding the timeline, Chusak mentioned potential constitutional amendments could be proposed by the end of September or early October. By October’s end, Parliament should establish a committee to ensure the draft’s completion and readiness for voting.
Discussions with other parties, such as Prachachon and Bhumjaithai, are planned to further refine the proposal. Concerning the reduction of Senate powers, Chusak indicated that such details would be addressed in the next steps after submitting Section 15/1.
Chusak concluded that any final draft would require consensus among different proposals, ensuring a unified approach to constitutional reform.