Bangkok: The People's Movement for Thailand (PMMT) has once again called for the new government to respect the voices of 21 million citizens by proceeding with constitutional amendments to create a new constitution with public participation. The People's Party stressed the importance of the new parliament and government in respecting the people's consensus and emphasized the need for a mechanism that ensures the greatest public involvement in drafting a new constitution.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Nattawut Buaprathum, a Member of Parliament from the People's Party and former chairman of the committee considering amendments to the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, highlighted the Election Commission's announcement in the Royal Gazette of the referendum results, where over 21 million people voted in favor of a new constitution. Despite this, sources suggest that the upcoming government, led by the Bhumjaithai Party, may not prioritize its implementation. Mr. Nattawut asserted that the new parliament and government must honor the people's mandate, and the People's Party is prepared to advocate for constitutional amendments once more.
Mr. Nattawut expressed gratitude to the 21,621,638 individuals who voted in favor of a new constitution, reflecting the people's mandate beyond political party lines. However, he also acknowledged the concerns of over 11 million people who did not approve and over 3 million who abstained from expressing an opinion. He emphasized the importance of addressing these concerns regarding the new constitution's form, content, process, and its role in solving political, social, economic, and livelihood issues. It is crucial for all sectors to engage in explaining and clarifying the process to ensure public participation in drafting and potentially approving the constitutional amendment draft through future referendums.
The Election Commission's publication of the referendum results and voter turnout in the Royal Gazette sets in motion the process outlined in Section 68 of the Referendum Act. This mandates the Commission to report the results to the Prime Minister and the President of the Parliament. However, the drafting of a new constitution requires amending the existing Constitution, specifically Section 256, under the Constitutional Court's ruling. Previously, a committee chaired by Mr. Nattawut was established to consider the draft amendment, but disagreements over the necessary Senate votes led to the dissolution of Parliament and new elections.
Mr. Nattawut voiced his surprise at reports suggesting the new government might not prioritize constitution drafting. He pointed out that both the government and Parliament are bound by the referendum results, which reflect the people's consensus on drafting a new constitution.
The options available include the new cabinet proposing its own draft constitutional amendment or using Article 147 of the Constitution to request Parliament's consideration of two existing draft amendments. This process must occur within 60 days of the first parliamentary session post-election. Mr. Nattawut urged the government to expedite the process, emphasizing that ignoring the people's mandate would lead the People's Party to submit another constitutional amendment draft to ensure a mechanism that prevents any party from monopolizing power and maximizes public participation.