Bangkok: Mr. Chusak Sirinil, a Pheu Thai Party list MP, has raised concerns over the absence of a draft constitution, four months after the dissolution of parliament. He questioned who would be held responsible for this oversight and expressed surprise over the lack of a cannabis policy, which he believes has negatively impacted Thailand’s global image as a major cannabis production hub.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Chusak addressed the government’s policy debate concerning the draft constitution, highlighting a perceived Memorandum of Understanding (MoA) with political parties that called for parliament to be dissolved within four months of the policy statement. However, the actual process is anticipated to take eight months to a year. The MoA is crucial in determining the acting political party during the House of Representatives dissolution.
Mr. Chusak pointed out inconsistencies in the government’s 15-point policy, noting the absence of policies on entertainment complexes with gambling businesses or sports involving gambling. He recommended that the government clearly state its stance on issues like the Khao Kradong case or senator collusion to avoid public questioning.
He also noted the MoA’s lack of reference to the constitution, despite a call for a joint constitutional amendment by the government, Prachachon Party, and Bhumjaithai Party. While the government pledged to support a referendum and constitutional amendments, the MoA does not align with the policy statement. This discrepancy raises questions about the cabinet’s capacity to draft a constitutional amendment, a challenge not faced by the previous government.
Mr. Chusak highlighted the difficulty in obtaining the necessary majority votes in the cabinet for a draft constitution and questioned if the cabinet could secure one-third of the Senate’s votes. He emphasized that the draft constitution’s inclusion in the MoA was intended to facilitate parliamentary dissolution within four months. However, he questioned who would be accountable if the draft fails, especially if previously opposed organizations now supporting it withdraw their support. Despite his critique, Mr. Chusak expressed regret over the dissolution of Parliament without achieving the desired constitutional progress.