MPs Concerned Pheu Thai's New Constitution Draft Could Be Worse Than Current One, Warn Anutin Against Blocking Reform With 21 Million Referendum Votes

MPs expressed uncertainty on May 15, 2569 whether the government's new constitution draft would be worse than the current one, citing the 21 million referendum votes as a powerful mandate. If those 21 million people took to the streets of Ratchadamnoen, their feet would overflow all the way to Government House, lawmakers warned. At the parliamentary session chaired by Sophon Saramay, MP Seksakit Yaemsongwansak from Bangkok of the Pheu Thai Party expressed concern about the proposed constitutional amendment prepared by the ruling coalition, saying he was uncertain whether the new draft would contain democratic principles or be even worse than the current charter. He noted that during the constitution-making process, Pheu Thai deliberately disconnected the drafting committee from the public, even in indirect election mechanisms, and attempted to route final approval back through parliament with only one-third Senate votes needed for passage in the future. Seksakit criticized the 2560 Constitution for creating mechanisms that oppose democracy through the Constitutional Court and independent agencies that used legal suppression against progressive political movements while restraining democratic forces. He emphasized that the 21 million referendum votes represent genuine sovereign power belonging to all Thai people, exceeding the combined election votes of the top two political parties, and constitute cross-party political will. Stating that 21 million voices equal 21 million pairs of feet that would flood Ratchadamnoen Avenue if they marched, he called on the prime minister to respect the referendum results and cooperate in dismantling anti-democratic mechanisms without obstruction.