Bangkok: Pakornwut Udompipatkul, a prominent MP from the People’s Party and chairman of the opposition coordinating committee, has expressed confidence that there are no indications of an impending dissolution of parliament. He believes the second reading of the constitutional amendment can be completed within two days, but if not, the discussions will continue on December 12.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Pakornwut provided insights into the preparations for the extraordinary joint parliamentary session scheduled for December 10-11, aimed at considering the second reading of the constitutional amendment bill. He noted that the opposition whips’ meeting was expected to take considerable time due to the numerous articles under review. Although the session could extend to December 12, he assured that it would not affect the timeline for the third reading.
Pakornwut emphasized the general consensus among parties to conclude the deliberations within two days. However, he acknowledged the possibility of extending discussions to December 12 if necessary, which would only slightly delay the third reading. He outlined potential timelines, indicating that the third reading could be scheduled for December 26-27 if the second reading concludes on December 11 and December 29 if extended to December 12.
When questioned about concerns regarding a potential dissolution of parliament before the third reading, Pakornwut dismissed such fears, affirming that he had not observed any signs pointing to that outcome. He reiterated the People’s Party’s commitment to amending the entire constitution to foster political stability and diminish the influence of extra-constitutional elements.
Pakornwut also addressed concerns about the timing of a referendum on the constitutional amendments, emphasizing the necessity for the Prime Minister to coordinate with the Election Commission to ensure the referendum coincides with the general election. He expressed confidence that constitutional amendments would pass the third reading, enabling the simultaneous holding of the referendum and election, as the legal framework already supports this arrangement.