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THREAD: Opposition parties have filed a motion to debate constitutional amendments in parliament yesterday. But to change anything in the 2017 Thai Constitution is going to be an uphill task https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/1969847/charter-rewrite-takes-first-step
2) It already starts with that there doesn't seem to be one unified opposition motion for constitutional amendments with the @MFPThailand looking to file one of their own. It was not reported why though, but I suspect that Move Forward wants a broader motion.
3) The 2017 Constitution was drafted during the military govt that seized powers in the coup of 2014. This was the second attempt after the first draft failed. Here's some background I wrote for @ConstitutionNet back in 2015. http://constitutionnet.org/news/thailands-post-coup-constitution-draft-punked-or-once-more-feeling
4) The second draft of the constitution was approved in a public referendum in 2016, which also included a question that would enable a fully-appointed senate to be involved in voting a new PM after a new election. Here's my @ChannelNewsAsia report: https://www.facebook.com/1760661844210458/videos/1776741269269182/
5) Side note: Since that 2nd Q in the referendum also won, it enabled the 250 senators to help vote a PM along with the 500 MPs, making it impossible for the opposition to swing things in their favor. Full video explainer here:
6) …and that's exactly what happened last year: Prayut stayed on as PM thanks to this rather lob sided affair: https://www.facebook.com/Saiyasombut/videos/2383985941621620
7) And this poses a problem with the constitutional amendments as well: Section 256 of the constitution states that BOTH chambers, the elected House and the appointed Senate have to deliberate and vote on any changes.
8) Now, there's consensus among the political parties - both opposition and coalition - that amendments are needed. Even PM Prayut agreed with it in principle as well. But as usual the devil is in the detail over what exactly gets to be amended. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/1962675/pm-vows-to-change-charter
8) One of the anti-govt protesters' key demands being a complete rewrite, the amendments may pose an opportunity for a compromise. But the 250 senators, fully-appointed by the prev military junta, will likely fight tooth and nail that would see their removal at least. (END)
