In a recent turn of events, the United Thai Nation Party (UTN), a coalition partner, has voiced strong opposition against the ruling Pheu Thai Party and the main opposition People’s Party (PP) in their bid to amend the 2017 constitution. This includes a controversial move to revise ethical standards for political officeholders. Sections 160(4) and (5) were originally intended to prevent those lacking moral integrity from gaining public office, stated Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, deputy leader of the UTN, on Friday.
Thanakorn warned that any attempt to dilute these ethical prerequisites could pave the way for unscrupulous individuals to ascend to power. “While there’s a compelling need to amend parts of the constitution, the government’s immediate priority should be to bolster the economy,” he asserted. He implored Parliament to carefully consider this issue before making any further decisions. “If both the House of Representatives and the Senate forge ahead with amending the ethics sections of the charter, it might be perceived as a self-serving maneuver,” he cautioned.
Moreover, he pointed out that those attempting to halt the amendments by filing petitions might risk violating the law by promoting such self-beneficial legislative changes. His comments were a reaction to Pheu Thai’s submission of a partial charter-amending bill to the House on Wednesday, following a similar proposal by the PP last week. Thanakorn defended the 2017 constitution, claiming it was effective in curbing corruption and misconduct, having been ratified in a national referendum.
House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha announced that the deliberation on the two bills by the Lower House would most likely commence around mid-October, contrary to earlier speculations of a sooner start. Chusak Sirinil, Minister of the PM’s Office and deputy Pheu Thai leader in legal affairs, dismissed accusations of a hidden agenda. Allegations have surfaced that Pheu Thai intends to assist former premier Thaksin Shinawatra in becoming a party member again, thus dodging a legal probe into his alleged meddling in internal party affairs.
Chusak clarified that the charter-amending bid was aimed at securing equal rights for all Thai citizens to join political parties of their choice, eliminating what he deemed excessive restrictions. Currently, individuals with suspended jail sentences are barred from political party membership, which Chusak criticized as unjust.
Chusak also confirmed Pheu Thai’s intent to amend the organic law on the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). The proposed change aims to revoke the NACC’s authority to bypass the prosecution and independently bring cases to court if there’s a disagreement between the two bodies. Additionally, Pheu Thai seeks to amend the organic law concerning political parties.
Meanwhile, Nakharin Mektrairat, the president of the Constitutional Court, chose not to comment on the two parties’ charter amendment plans, which some critics believe could potentially alter the court’s role. In other announcements, Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, acting as a government whip, said that Pheu Thai plans to meet with all coalition members to discuss their charter-amending proposals before September 27. Phumtham highlighted that a consensus among all coalition partners is essential. However, he couldn’t confirm at this juncture whether all coalition partners would back the bill.
This partial amendment effort is intended to run parallel with the government’s broader initiative to rewrite the constitution.
I can’t believe the Pheu Thai Party thinks they can get away with this. Weakening the ethical standards in the constitution? That’s a recipe for disaster!
I agree! This is just going to let more corrupt politicians into power. What are they thinking?
Not necessarily. The current standards are overly strict and can prevent honest people from serving. We need a system that’s fair to all.
But isn’t it just about time we reconsidered these rules? The economic issues are pressing, sure, but isn’t representation equally important?
Thanakorn is just trying to maintain the status quo. Any real change threatens his position.
That’s one way to see it. But keeping high ethical standards is crucial for a functioning democracy.
True, but the current standards are preventing genuine candidates from entering politics. It’s not just about ethics, it’s about access.
Why focus on constitutional changes when the economy is in shambles? Amending regulations won’t put food on the table.
Yes, exactly! This administration should get its priorities straight.
Economic issues are urgent, but ethical and legal reforms are foundational. One can’t thrive without the other.
True, but without a transparent and fair political system, how can we tackle economic problems effectively?
It’s obvious that Pheu Thai just wants to bring Thaksin back into the fold. They’re playing dirty politics.
You might be right. Using these amendments to help Thaksin would be unethical.
Unethical or not, isn’t it better to have strong political figures who understand the system?
That’s no excuse for bending the rules. It sets a dangerous precedent.
Chusak defending these absurd changes is laughable. If people with criminal records can join political parties, we’re doomed.
Not everyone with a suspended sentence is a hardened criminal. Some laws are too harsh and need reconsidering.
Sure, but many are guilty of serious crimes. It’s a slippery slope we don’t want to go down.
The idea is to give everyone a second chance. People can change, and we need lawmakers with diverse experiences.
If the NACC loses its power to act independently, then anti-corruption efforts will suffer greatly.
That’s exactly what Pheu Thai wants. Less oversight and more doors open for them.
It’s disheartening to see how power can be so easily abused by those who should be serving the public.
UTN’s opposition is clearly just a ploy to distract from their own failings.
What failings? They are the only party actually standing up for ethical standards.
They’ve failed to address economic issues adequately, but love to point fingers at constitutional reform efforts.
It’s not a distraction. Constitutional amendments have long-term impacts. They should be wary.
The current constitutional framework is not perfect, but opening it up to changes can make things worse.
Yes, we must tread carefully. History has shown that hasty amendments often lead to chaos.
Why are we so resistant to change? Every democratic country evolves; Thailand should too.
Change is fine, but it must be the right change. This move by Pheu Thai seems self-serving.
UTN just wants to keep power centralized. They fear losing control.
Regardless of political agendas, revising the constitution requires transparency and public consensus.
Amending the law like this might bring unforeseen consequences. What safeguards are in place?
Pheu Thai’s push for these amendments is genuinely concerning. Reducing the power of anti-corruption bodies is a step backward.
Ethical standards must remain high. No compromises.
Amending the constitution for political gain undermines the very fabric of democracy.
I think it’s time we looked at the bigger picture. All politicians must be held accountable, regardless of the parties they belong to.
The public must be involved in these decisions, not just politicians with their own agendas.
Chusak’s argument about equal rights is compelling, but it can’t come at the cost of compromising ethical standards.
I’m worried that these changes will trigger a wave of corruption. Pheu Thai must clarify their intentions.