Legislators voting for charter amendments bill warned of possible probe

26 Sept 08:28 Key points summarised by AI

Senators abstained from voting on the constitutional amendments bill, adhering to a Constitutional Court ruling that requires public consent via a national referendum before drafting a new constitution.
Legislators who voted in favor of the defeated bill were warned of potential probes by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), which could lead to their removal from political office.
The charter amendments bill was voted down after extensive debate, with officials clarifying that amending Chapter 15/1 is deemed equivalent to writing a new charter, thus requiring a prior referendum.
Parliament President Chuan Leekpai is exploring future options for charter amendments, indicating that a section-by-section approach is more feasible than drafting an entirely new constitution.

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.