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Bangkok Post
Bangkok Post
National

Pheu Thai Party pushes bill to rewrite charter

(Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)

Pheu Thai will review its charter amendment bill next week before submitting it to parliament, says deputy leader and list-MP Chousak Sirinil.

The party's working panel would finalise the draft and consider whether any further revisions are needed. If completed on Tuesday, the bill will be submitted to a meeting of Pheu Thai MPs for approval.

He said the party is short of the 26 signatures required to submit the bill and will seek support from other parties. He expressed confidence the process would proceed smoothly.

The proposed amendment envisages public participation through a 150-member charter drafting assembly (CDA), which would be indirectly elected by the public, Mr Chousak said.

Under the proposal, voters would first select 300 candidates, from whom parliament would choose 100 members. The remaining 50 members would be nominated by academic institutions, media outlets, human rights groups, local bodies and professional associations.

He said the proposed CDA framework would include mechanisms to strengthen the rule of law, ensure genuinely independent oversight bodies and prevent changes to the democratic system with the King as head of state.

Mr Chousak said he expects several additional charter amendment proposals from other parties, including the Prachachat Party, noting that Pheu Thai is willing to cooperate in principle.

He added that if all parties are committed to improving the country and advancing democracy through charter reform, they should reduce their own conditions and debate the details seriously at committee level.

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