Party Introduces Bill to Amend Constitution
PUBLISHED: 18 Sep 2024 at 05:01
The main opposition party has introduced a bill designed to amend the constitution, aiming to limit the National Anti-Corruption Commission’s (NACC) authority regarding investigations of ethical violations among MPs and senators.
House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha has been formally presented with the bill, as confirmed by a spokesperson from the opposition party.
This legislative move occurs in the context of the ruling Pheu Thai Party’s efforts to gather support from coalition partners for its own charter amendment, which addresses ethical standards for political officeholders.
Current regulations impose lifetime political bans on individuals violating these ethical standards.
Insiders indicated that the Pheu Thai Party’s proposal lacks the precision present in the opposition’s bill concerning the NACC’s jurisdiction over ethical violations. Both drafts are set to undergo concurrent deliberation before a potential merger during the scrutiny phase.
The spokesperson reported that the opposition party’s bill is currently undergoing review and is anticipated to be placed on the parliamentary agenda within 15 days.
A debate on the bill is tentatively scheduled for September 25, although scheduling conflicts with the Pheu Thai proposal could lead to a rescheduling of the opposition’s draft.
The bill aims to systematically clarify the definitions of ethical violations applicable to political officeholders.
Concerns have emerged within the House regarding an increase in frivolous petitions aimed at destabilizing political figures over minor or fabricated allegations.
The NACC is responsible for processing these cases before determining whether they should be escalated to the Supreme Court or Constitutional Court.
Recognizing the need for further refinement, the spokesperson noted that the initial guidelines within the charter are somewhat vague and require clarification.
In concurrence with previous statements by the ruling party, the spokesperson emphasized that any amendments impacting the authority of an independent agency would necessitate a public referendum to finalize the changes.
Additionally, the Prime Minister’s Office Minister expressed that the ruling party intends to revise four to five sections relating to the ethical framework for politicians, dismissing claims that the charter amendments are self-serving. The objective is to enhance clarity regarding definitions of ethical violations.
