Nikorn Chamnong Warns of Hurdles in Thailand’s Charter Amendment Debate

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In the ever-evolving world of political chess, a new move is about to hit the board: a charter amendment bill with aspirations of birthing a Charter Drafting Assembly (CDA). However, hopes of this legislative endeavor successfully debuting in its maiden reading seem about as slim as a bookworm’s bookmark. Who’s blowing the horn of caution, you ask? None other than Nikorn Chamnong, the articulate secretary of the joint committee on the referendum bill. As parliament gears up to meticulously dissect these ambitious charter amendment bills from January 14 to 15, stakes are inevitably high.

Adding a twist to the tale, Parliament President Wan Muhamad Noor Matha has tossed his hat into the ring. He’s eager to slot a bill aiming to reshape Section 256—wherein the plot thickens as a CDA enters stage left—into the grand mix for debate.

Yet, alas, the waters are far from calm. Mr. Nikorn waves a red flag as this initiative, passionately championed by the formidable People’s Party (PP) from the opposition trenches, is trudging a rather thorny path. The obstacle course is largely courtesy of a significant 2021 dictate by the Constitutional Court, which has already played referee to the charter rewriting saga.

The edict from on-high—our proverbial umpire—hedged its bets on a national referendum, stressing that the power to sculpt a new constitution resides first and foremost with the public’s vote. As fate would have it, a predecessor bill, seeking to usher in the CDA amid similar fanfare, found itself cornered and ultimately declined in its climactic third reading, failing rather spectacularly to summon adequate backing from both the House and the Senate.

Mr. Nikorn speculates further intrigue; there’s chatter that some parliamentary players might petition the Constitutional Court to scrutinize the imminent debate’s constitutional validity. While such a legal procession hasn’t been ushered into existence yet, the possibility looms large. It’s anticipated that certain voices in the House might prematurely vote down the bill on first reading to sidestep a brush with judiciary disapproval.

“The suspense of a PP-sponsored bill will only escalate the simmering tensions between the House of Representatives and the Senate, an interplay that’s already skirting the edges due to disagreements over the required majority for passing a charter referendum,” remarks Mr. Nikorn with a knowing nod.

Section 256 is the culprit at the heart of this discord, insisting staunchly on at least one-third endorsement from all senators in both the initial and decisive third readings of a charter amendment bill. In a daring twist of conventional norms, the PP-sponsored proposition seeks to do away with Senate backing altogether in favor of a two-thirds House majority for charter amendment bills to see the light of day.

Conceptualizing the CDA, it’s an ambitious blueprint envisioning a congregation of 200 citizen-elected members, their fate sealed under a dual-ballot system. The first heroic hundred chosen from constituencies, while the second hundred rise from the ranks of the party-list system—complete with the thrilling stipulation that aspirants in the party-list league must rally as a team, composed of no fewer than 20 contenders and no more than a century.

Once the CDA blossoms, it will spawn a 45-strong charter-writing brigade tasked with sculpting the nation’s new foundational document. Out of this grand assembly, 30 must be plucked from the CDA roster, with the rest open to either seasoned CDA insiders or appointed virtuosos.

Adding a sprinkle of suspense, Prime Minister’s Office Minister and shrewd legal eagle of the ruling Pheu Thai, Chousak Sirinil, hints at a twist: the ruling party’s rendezvous on the coming Tuesday could unveil its alternative CDA proposal. Tension, drama, and political intrigue—the plot thickens with each passing sentence.