BANGKOK, Sept 8 (TNA) – The parliament turned down four constitutional amendment bills in their first reading and they included a bill to strip senators of their power to co-elect the prime minister.
The four bill rejected by the joint sitting of the parliament included three bills proposed by Pheu Thai Party leader Cholnan Srikaew and associates. They concerned the rights of individuals and communities, the rights people in the justice system and the qualifications of the prime minister.
The other bill proposed by Somchai Srisutthiyakorn and 64,151 others was intended to end senators’ power to co-elect the prime minister.
Representatives from opposition parties and many coalition parties including Bhumjaithai, Democrat and Chartthaipattana supported the constitutional amendment bills. However, they were rejected because less than one-third of senators, or 83 out of 250, voted for them. (TNA)
