Opposition Coalition Seeks Constitutional Amendment Delay
The opposition coalition is seeking a delay to July's constitutional amendment parliamentary session, citing an incomplete public petition that lacks required signatures for timely submission. The three-faction meeting has been rescheduled
Pirsit Watcharasindhul, a Pheu Thai party list MP and coordinator of the opposition coalition (opposition bloc), said the joint parliamentary session originally scheduled for July 7-8 to consider constitutional amendments regarding Section 15/1 and drafting a new constitution should be postponed. A public draft is being prepared and has not yet reached the required 50,000 signatures, making it impossible for it to be submitted in time for the July 7-8 meeting. Pirsit expressed surprise that the parliamentary speaker has not yet scheduled a three-faction meeting to formalize discussions and clarify whether other parliamentary agendas will be considered instead.
Chada Thaiseuksaman, a Bhumjaithai party MP from Uthai Thani, raised concerns about verifying that public signatories actually understand the constitutional amendment proposal, citing a previous submission of 20,000 signatures with unclear public comprehension. Sophon responded that verification procedures are already in place.
Sophon proposed moving the three-faction meeting to the morning of July 6, citing a full schedule on July 2. Pirsit agreed but expressed concern about having only 24 hours between the meeting and the July 7 parliamentary session. He requested a commitment that if the meeting proceeds on July 6, the July 7 parliamentary agenda should focus on Article 236 constitutional amendments, which have already been sufficiently studied. Sophon agreed to issue invitations for the three-faction meeting on July 6.
