The ruling Pheu Thai Party has denied undermining ethical standards for political postholders stipulated by the constitution, saying the party merely wants to clarify what constitutes ethical grounds for prosecuting occupants of public office.
Critics have warned the party's push to relax the standards of ethical conduct for political postholders via a charter amendment could create a pretext for power seizure.
Pheu Thai secretary-general Sorawong Thienthong said yesterday the party is meeting coalition partners to explain the changes it is sponsoring regarding politicians' standards of ethics.
He denied the move would curb the courts' authority to adjudicate on cases of this type.
"Our target is to set a clearer framework around what amounts to an ethical breach by a politician," Mr Sorawong said.
He said ethics-related amendments will be pursued article by article, not through a rewrite of the entire constitution.
Mr Worawong conceded the chance of any ethics-based amendments being passed hinged on parliamentary support.
"We need to talk it through with them [other parties] first," he added.
Key figures in the coalition's Bhumjaithai, United Thai Nation (UTN) and Democrat parties have openly opposed changes to the ethics clauses, which critics have also slammed as self-serving and which they say risk sowing the seeds of the government's demise.
Serial petitioner Srisuwan Janya said yesterday parties stand to lose from the ethics law being enforced as it is, which explains why they are trying to water it down.
He said several politicians were being prosecuted or risked being prosecuted on ethical offences, so weakening the enforcement of these clauses in the charter would be tantamount to a conflict of interest. Mr Srisuwan added the amendment would also interfere with the National Anti-Corruption Commission's power to indict political postholders.
Meanwhile, former red-shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan said the changes being advocated would "loosen up" restrictions on ethical standards and emasculate the power of the Constitutional Court by requiring two-thirds of nine judges rather than a simple majority to dismiss a cabinet minister on ethical grounds.
He said Pheu Thai's changes may generate resistance and provide a catalyst for the military to stage a coup.
