Bill must pass House within 180 days below charter
If the bill around the election of MPs — which in the current form might find the number of votes obtained by each party divided by five hundred to determine the number of party-list seats — isn’t very passed by the third reading on Aug 15, parliament will adopt an alternative method to work out the matter, said Deputy Best Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam yesterday.
If the House fails to pass the costs as scheduled, the amount of party-list seats will be calculated by dividing a party’s total number of votes by the divisor 100 — a method which have been voted down just before as it was viewed as benefiting larger, competent parties.
Mr Wissanu produced the remarks right after yet another House program called to discuss the issue had to be cancelled because of lack of quorum, in what is seen as a stalling tactic to stop the bill’s passage in favour of the smaller divisor.
To date, 3 sessions have had to become called off because not enough MPs were present in the chamber for the session to keep.
Mister Wissanu said an early on version of the bill will be adopted when the House fails to move the bill in its current form by Aug 15, as by law, such bills have to be passed within 180 days.
The earlier edition of the bill, which had already been scrutinised by the Council of State and cabinet, was voted down in parliament upon July 6, resulting in changes which led to the bill’s current form.
“A Constitutional Courtroom ruling may have to become sought if the initial version is resurrected, ” Mr Wissanu said.
Pheu Thai Celebration leader Cholnan Srikaew yesterday admitted the particular party was using parliamentary mechanisms to prevent the bill’s passing.
“We have always supported the use of 100 and have been trying to find ways to bring it back. inch
Small parties would believe it is easier to win a listing seat using the larger divisor. But bigger parties, Pheu Thai in particular, have been pushing for the smaller number, as they are assured of capturing many of the 100 seats up for grabs in the party-list system.
The Palang Pracharath plus Democrat parties got previously backed the use of 100. However , coalition parties later produced a U-turn about what is seen as a bid to prevent Pheu Thai from winning big within the next poll, sources said.