Rejig lets only parties put up PM nominee

The revised version of the draft constitution has been submitted to the Constitutional Court for consideration in which appointed senators are not allowed to nominate a prime minister as earlier requested.

The Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) yesterday submitted a revised version of the draft constitution to the court.

A source at the court said judges are expected to meet tomorrow to consider whether to accept the revised version.

The CDC has amended the draft charter in line with the extra question which was approved along with the draft charter in the Aug 7 referendum.

The amendment only allows the Senate to join MPs in voting for a prime minister during the first five years after the new constitution is enacted, as endorsed by the referendum. However, the Upper House is not permitted to nominate a prime minister, as had been proposed later by the National Legislative Assembly (NLA).

CDC spokesman Norachit Sinhaseni yesterday said the CDC has also provided the court with a set of nine reasons to back the amendment.

The CDC also told the court that the extra question and the NLA’s documents explaining the extra question to the public did not mention the Senate’s right to nominate a prime minister, Mr Norachit said.

Under the amendment, only parties have the right to nominate prime ministerial candidates in the lists they submit to the Election Commission before the election.

If a joint House-Senate session fails to select a prime minister, the House of Representatives will decide to propose a motion to convene a joint House-Senate session to consider whether to waive the party candidate nomination rule and begin the process to select an “outsider” prime minister.

The court will have 30 days to consider whether to approve the revised version. If not, the court will send the draft back to the CDC so it can make changes before it goes for royal endorsement.