THE majority of judges at the Constitution Court ruled this afternoon (March 11) that Parliament has the authority to amend the Constitution to pave the way for setting up a charter drafting body but stated that a referendum must first be held to ascertain whether the public want a new constitution and once the charter draft is completed another referendum has to be held to obtain public approval, Thai Rath newspaper said.
Palang Phracharat Party list-MP Phaiboon Nititawan and Senator Somchai Sawaengkarn had tabled a motion on this issue to a joint session of the Parliament. They wanted Parliament President Chuan Leekpai to ask the Constitutional Court to rule whether Section 210, paragraph one (2) of the charter allows for amending Section 256 (1) to pave the way for setting up a charter drafting assembly and this was approved by majority vote early last month.
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Top: The Thai Constitutional Court logo. Photo: Thai Rath
