Bangkok: Senator Nantana Nantvaropas has taken a decisive step to expedite the process of including a draft referendum bill aimed at amending the constitution. She submitted a formal request to Mr. Wan Muhammad Noor Matha, President of the House of Representatives, emphasizing the urgency of addressing constitutional loopholes that have contributed to the nation’s political crisis.
According to Thai News Agency, the senator, who serves on the Subcommittee on Political Development and Public Participation, underscored the importance of advancing the draft Referendum Act, which has been pending for 180 days. She urged that the bill be prioritized when the parliament reconvenes on July 3. The spokesperson for the President of the House of Representatives, Mr. Kampee Dithakorn, received the letter on the president’s behalf.
Ms. Nantana highlighted the need for immediate parliamentary action to enable the Election Commission to draft necessary regulations for organizing a referendum. She stressed that the 2017 constitution contains several significant loopholes and called on independent senators and MPs, who pledged constitutional amendments during the 2023 election campaign, to collaborate on drafting a new constitution aimed at fostering democracy and good governance in Thailand.
Addressing concerns about the potential obstacles posed by the current government crisis, Ms. Nantana viewed the situation as an opportunity to highlight the constitution’s deficiencies. She pointed out issues such as the indirect election of the prime minister by senators not elected by the people and the risks of collusion among appointed senators. She emphasized that amending the constitution is essential to resolving these issues and preventing future crises.
Ms. Nantana expressed hope for cooperation from both MPs and senators in working towards constitutional amendments within the remaining two years of the parliamentary term. She is optimistic that the process can be completed in time for 2070, effectively steering Thailand out of its current crisis and ensuring a government that truly represents the people’s will.
When questioned about the potential impact of a parliamentary dissolution on the amendment process, Ms. Nantana was unfazed. She asserted that dissolution would simply return power to the people, allowing them to elect a government and parties that align with their interests. She acknowledged that while the selection of MPs would continue unaffected, the selection of senators could pose challenges under the current rules, potentially leading to increased collusion.