On a rather bustling Tuesday in the grand halls of the Senate, Somchai stepped up to the plate, delivering a speech that rippled through the marbled corridors with the force of a reality check. With the charm of an old-guard statesman and the precision of a seasoned economist, he launched into a spirited debate about the hot-button issue that’s got everyone talking: do we really, truly need a new constitution?
“Folks,” he began, his voice echoing off the walls, “our current Constitution is no lightweight contender—it’s backed by a whopping 16 million votes from a public referendum that’s etched in the annals of our history.”
He painted a vivid picture of the hefty price tag that comes with drafting a brand new constitution—a tag so hefty, it makes the national budget wince. Imagine not one, not two, but three separate public referendums, each with a price tag of 3.5 billion baht. That’s more than 10 billion baht before you’ve even had your morning coffee! And let’s not forget, Somchai argued with a knowing nod, these numbers don’t even brush the surface of the true cost. Salaries for an army of officials, compensations, and logistical support spill over to add another clinking bag of baht, to the tune of an additional 15.7 million, if not more.
In this corner of the political ring, we have Pheu Thai, flexing its campaign muscles and throwing promises into the crowd like candy at a parade. “A fully democratic people’s charter!” they proclaimed with gusto, pledging to keep the revered chapters on government type and monarchy as pristine as a temple shrine. But Somchai, leaning in with the scoop on the ins and outs of constitutional prose, dropped a bombshell. No less than 27 articles, he said, playing hopscotch over other chapters, are entwined with the regal powers of the King. “Rewrite the constitution without even nicking the royal powers?” he chuckled. “Good luck with that!”
As murmurs rippled through the room, you couldn’t help but admire Somchai’s tactical approach—the old general mapping out the battlefield with cool clarity. The air was thick with suspense, the Senate hanging on his every word. He wasn’t just speaking to the walls and the polished wood; he was stirring hearts, poking at wallets, and challenging minds.
And so, as the gavel struck and the echoes of political banter slowly faded into the murals of the Senate, the question hung heavy in the air, a thought bubble eagerly awaiting a burst of decision—will the urge for a fresh start outweigh the millions and the traditions holding firm like the roots of an ancient banyan tree? Only time, dear reader, will weave that tale.
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