Wirat Rattanaset, a Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) list MP and government chief whip, was selected on Tuesday as the president of the parliament’s committee to oversee charter amendment motions.
The committee consists of 45 parliamentarians including 15 senators and 30 members of parliament.
Of the 30 MPs, 8 are from PPRP, 8 from Pheu Thai Party, 4 from Bhumjaithai Party, 3 from Move Forward Party, 3 from Democrat Party while Chartthaipattana Party, Thai Liberal Party, Prachachart Party, and New Economics Party has 1 MP each.
It is being tasked with the vetting of the two charter amendment drafts which passed the parliament’s first reading on November 18.
The two petitions proposed the setting up of a new constitution drafting assembly (CDA) which would either consist of 150 elected MPs and 50 experts (coalition’s petition), or 200 elected members (opposition parties’ petition).
Wirat said the new committee will concentrate on the coalition’s amendment petition and that a sub-committee would be set up to deal with smaller details such as the qualifications of the members of the new CDA.
He said that the parliament committee is willing to study proposals from the five rejected charter amendment petitions, including the Internet Law Reform Dialogue’s petition that was backed by 100,000 civilian signatures.
However, the committee will disregard any proposals that would lead to any changes that is related to the power of the monarchy and royal institution, he added.
