BANGKOK, June 8 – Parliament President Somsak Kiatsuranont told a joint House-Senate meeting on Friday that he needed two or three more days to decide on the voting for the third and final reading of reconciliation bill.
Mr Somsak stated that today’s joint sitting of Parliament sitting will not entail a vote on the bill as it was not on the agenda. Members of parliament are allowed, however, time to discuss the issue if they request it.
Parliament will only debate the proposed frameworks for negotiations with other countries prior to the signing of any international agreements under Article 190 of the Constitution.
“Be assured that there will be no vote on the third reading of the reconciliation bill,” the president of parliament reiterated.
To call the next joint parliament sitting needs at least three days, he said. Once a decision is made, it could proceed immediately.
“I’ve heeded differing views of all parties concerned and will take them into account together with political situation for a final decision, whatever way, it is the same tough decision,” Mr Somsak said.
The opposition Democrats threatened walking out of the chamber if today’s meeting calls for a vote on the bill.
Mr Somsak delayed the third reading of the charter amendment bills in a move to avoid a showdown with the Constitution Court which ordered Parliament to suspend the deliberation pending the court ruling on the constitutionality of the bills as petitioned by some MPs and senators.
The Court’s decision sparked heavy criticism from those who opposed it and argued that the court had no authority to do so. They urged the parliament to defy the court order.
Government chief whip Udomdej Rattanasathien said the vote on the reconciliation bills is expected next week but that is up to the parliament president’s decision.
Before the joint session began, ruling Pheu Thai party spokesperson Prompong Nopparit petitioned ethics House committee chair via deputy house speaker Charoen Chankomol to probe the ethical conduct of five Democrat MPs–Apichart Supapang, Pongvej Vejjajiva, Rangsima Rodrassami Varong Dejkitvikrom and Thani Thaugsuban–for what was described as “inappropriate behaviour” during the House session. The petition seeks their removal, if the probe finds them having breached Parliament’s ethical code of conduct.
Last week, the opposition MPs stirred chaotic scenes in the chamber to disrupt the house session debating the charter rewrite bill, which they said benefited fugitive ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
