Pheu Thai to explain Section 68

Pheu Thai to explain Section 68

The Pheu Thai Party will set out the reasons for its opposition to the Constitution Court's considering a petition against the proposed rewrite of Section 68 of the charter, party spokesman Prompong Nopparit said on Monday.

The explanation will be made in an open letter to the press, members of parliament and state agencies, he said.

The detailed letter will say why the court’s decision to accept the case filed by Sen Somchai Sawaengkarn was a wrongful intervention in the affairs of the legislative branch of government.

Mr Prompong said Section 68 of the constitution allows the public to complain directly to the court in relation to acts that could undermine the constitutional monarchy or grab power through unconstitutional means.

The amendment would require complaints to be made first with public prosecutors, a move viewed by Mr Somchai as depriving the public of its right to raise issues with the court.

“If we don’t clarify this and keep on accepting the power of the Constitution Court, it will cause problem for the sovereign power. We need to make it clear to the people that the power to establish laws belongs to members of parliament," he said. 

Parliament has no conflict with the court, nor does it intend to try and overthrow an independent organisation, as claimed by the Democrats, Mr Prompong said.

The explanation will probably be released next week, he added.

Pheu Thai MPs and senators backing the charter amendment have vowed to impeach the Constitution Court judges. The Pheu Thai Party, however, said the impeachment threats do not reflect the party's position on the issue, but the actions of individual MPs.

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