Thai Parliament approves three Charter amendment drafts

BANGKOK, February 25 (TNA) - A joint sitting of Thailand's Lower and Upper Houses approved in principle late last night three constitutional amendment drafts of the 2010 Constitution. The majority of the Thai lawmakers of both the House of Representatives and the Senate approved the three Charter amendment drafts, sponsored by the government, the ruling Pheu Thai Party and the coalition Chartthaipattana Party, with equal votes of 399:199 and 14 abstentions. The three drafts were endorsed by the Parliament following a two-day fierce debate among government and opposition MPs. As expected, the opposition camp, led by the Democrat Party, voted against the three Charter amendment drafts, particularly for Section 291 of the 2010 Constitution concerning the setting up of a new Constitution drafting assembly. Surprisingly, almost all members of the opposition Bhumjaithai Party voted in favour of the three drafts, except Chai Chidchob, a former House Speaker, who abstained from casting his vote. Also, General Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, now leader of opposition Matabhum Party and former leader of the September 2006 coup which toppled the six-year elected Thaksin administration, was absent while votes were cast. A 45-member vetting committee was then set up, with 10 members from the Senate and the remaining 35 members from the House of Representatives, to review the three constitutional amendment drafts. The committee is scheduled to hold its first meeting on February 29. (TNA)