Vote for prime minister put off after court postpones Pita hearing

SOON after the Constitutional Court postponed a hearing on accepting a petition on the constitutionality of a vote denying Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat a second chance to be named prime minister from today Aug. 3 to Aug. 16, tomorrow’s scheduled House/Senate vote for prime minister too was put off, Naewna newspaper said.

House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha said as the Constitutional Court has postponed considering whether or not to accept the Ombudsman’s Office’s petition to rule on constitutionality of this vote, the first agenda of tomorrow’s joint meeting too has been put off with the second agenda moved up.

This second agenda is the consideration of a legislation filed by Move Forward to amend the coup junta-designed constitution’s Section 272 to the extent that the unelected senators be no longer empowered to cast votes for prime minister alongside the elected MPs.

“We can’t vote for a prime minister until the Constitutional Court reaches a decision on Aug. 16. How we proceed after that depends on the outcome on Aug. 16. So there are still several days and there may be other agendas for parliamentary meetings to consider while waiting for Aug. 16,” he said.

Asked if the Constitutional Court decides to not accept this petition on Aug.16 whether a vote for prime minister could take place the next day on Aug. 17, Wan Noor replied that it would be the same as this time that is the court was earlier to decide today and the prime minister vote was set for tomorrow.

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Top: House Speaker Wan Muhanmad Noor Matha. Photo: Naewna

Front Page: An image of Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat overlaid on the entrance to the Constitutional Court. Photo: Matichon

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