Bangkok: The Pheu Thai Party is actively pursuing support from its MPs to secure 100 signatures needed to back a constitutional amendment draft, aiming to submit it to the Speaker of the House in June.
According to Thai News Agency, the Pheu Thai Party held a press conference at its headquarters, where Mr. Chusak Sirinil, MP and deputy party leader, alongside Mr. Chaturon Chaisang and Ms. Monporn Charoensri, disclosed the progress of their draft constitution submission to Parliament. Mr. Chusak explained that the party's draft seeks to amend Article 256 of the Constitution, ensuring alignment with the Constitutional Court's ruling from September 2025. The proposal involves forming a Constitutional Drafting Assembly (CDA), with part of its members elected by the public, ensuring a broad representation of perspectives.
The Constitutional Drafting Committee (CDC) will comprise 152 members, including 52 appointed from various sectors. The Pheu Thai Party aims for a diverse drafting process, inviting organizations from different sectors to participate. This initiative intends to include protections for rights, freedoms, and local governance, along with mechanisms for scrutinizing state power and preventing corruption. The CDC will have a 300-day timeframe for drafting, with Parliament holding the final approval authority.
Mr. Chusak emphasized the need for support from other political parties to meet the one-fifth requirement of the House of Representatives, as the Pheu Thai Party currently has 74 MPs. Coordination with other parties is underway to gather the necessary signatures, underscoring this as a national concern rather than a partisan issue. The party expects to submit the draft to Parliament by early June.
Mr. Chaturon addressed concerns about amendments benefiting MPs or political parties, asserting that the Pheu Thai Party's inclusive drafting process seeks to reflect public will rather than party interests. The party is open to supporting other parties' amendment drafts, provided they align with the intention to revise Article 256 and create a new constitution.
Mr. Chusak expressed optimism about overcoming past obstacles, such as Constitutional Court petitions and Senate approval constraints, to advance the constitutional amendment process. He highlighted the ongoing efforts and hoped for a successful outcome that leads to a more democratic constitution.