Palang Pracharat deputy leader urges fellow lawmakers to reject iLaw’s draft charter amendment

23 Sept 03:20 Key points summarised by AI

Palang Pracharat deputy leader Paiboon Nititawan urged MPs to reject iLaw's draft constitutional amendment, claiming it's unconstitutional due to foreign funding and alleged opposition to the Monarchy.
Paiboon questioned iLaw's motive for a clause allowing various individuals, including those banished from politics, to join a future Constitution Drafting Assembly.
Senator Seri Suwanpanont also raised concerns, citing 11 points in iLaw's draft, such as dissolving key national commissions and scrapping the 20-year national strategy, as threats to Thai security.
Senator Seri further questioned the legitimacy of the nearly 100,000 signatories, suggesting many may disagree with iLaw's "people's draft".

Speculation growing over merger between Bhumjaithai and Kla Tham parties

Yesterday 16:46 Key points summarised by AI

A dinner between Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul and Kla Tham leader Capt. Thamanat Prompow ignited widespread speculation about a potential merger between their parties.
The meeting is viewed as a strategic message to coalition partner Pheu Thai, indicating Bhumjaithai's alternative options following Pheu Thai's chief whip's remarks about not fully defending all ministers in the upcoming no-confidence debate.
A direct merger between parties with sitting MPs is currently prohibited by Section 99 of the Constitution until the House's term expires, though MPs can switch parties through dismissal or party dissolution.
These constitutional rules aim to prevent financially strong parties from easily absorbing smaller ones, a practice that historically led to single-party dominance, as seen with Thai Rak Thai's 2005 election victory.