Bangkok: Thammasat University academics are urging the parliament to discuss amending Section 256 to pave the way for establishing a Constituent Assembly. They advocate for accepting the principle before delving into details in a subsequent reading and stress that there is no need to resubmit the matter to the Constitutional Court due to its clear ruling. The academics also highlighted the possibility of a cabinet reshuffle following the censure debate.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Puravich Wattanasuk, a lecturer at the Faculty of Political Science at Thammasat University, shared his views on the parliament's consideration of the draft amendment to Section 256 of the constitution scheduled for February 13-14. He expects it to pass the first reading, noting previous attempts to amend the constitution since 2020, with only one success. He considers this upcoming session a critical milestone that could lead to the first establishment of a Constituent Assembly since the Constitutional Court's ruling no. 4/2564.
The Constitutional Court's ruling 4/2564 explicitly states that parliament has the authority to draft a new constitution, contingent upon public approval through referendums. The court did not specify multiple referendums, reinforcing the parliament's power to draft a new constitution. A majority of Constitutional Court judges and legal experts, including Professor Emeritus Dr. Bowornsak Uwanno, support this interpretation.
With this clear mandate, there is no justification for another submission to the Constitutional Court for interpretation, unless it is a tactic to delay amendments. Mr. Puravich emphasized that for the upcoming parliamentary session, the focus should be on accepting the principle, with detailed discussions reserved for the committee level in the second reading.
Addressing former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's comments on cabinet adjustments, Mr. Puravich mentioned that such changes typically follow a no-confidence debate. He anticipates another cabinet adjustment post-debate, citing recent media reports of a new cabinet list, which indicates potential changes.
Regarding the censure debate and the government's handling of the 14th floor issue, Mr. Puravich believes the Pheu Thai Party will be well-prepared to address criticisms. He also expects the Prachachon Party to capitalize on this opportunity to enhance its public standing, especially after its declining popularity following the dissolution of the Move Forward Party.