Move Forward MPs file bill to rid senators of PM-picking power

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

MOVE FORWARD MPs today (July 14) filed a renewed bill to put an end to the constitutional power of the military-appointed senators to pick a prime minister.

The Move Forward legislation was lodged in pursuit of amendment to Section 272 of the military-designed constitution to the extent that the senators be no longer empowered to vote for prime minister alongside the elected MPs.

House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha said he considered such a bill involving the much-debatable part of the charter as urgent.

Until the constitution of 2017 was promulgated following the 2014 coup the naming and picking of head of a post-election government had been the business of the elected MPs only.

Today’s latest move on the part of the Move Forward MPs undoubtedly followed yesterday’s event in which Move Forward leader/prime minister-designate Pita Limjaroenrat’s attempted rise to power was denied by a majority of the senators who did either not attend a joint House/Senate meeting to pick a prime minister or abstain from voting or downright cast nay votes against him.

Pita had only 324 yea votes, 51 short of a minimum of 375 votes in support of him for elected premiership.

Similar efforts to put an end to the senators’ power to pick a prime minister had been made but fizzled out in the time of a previous House.

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Top and Front Page: Pheu Thai MPs submitting their bill to House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha today, July 14, 2023. Photos: Thai Rath

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