Democrats approach decision on charter changes

Bangkok Post 25/01/2010

The Democrat Party will decide its position on the proposed constitutional amendments tomorrow, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says.

The Democrats failed to vote on the changes at a two-day seminar in Krabi at the weekend.

The party agreed that views for and against the changes should be presented to the executive committee, and it would be left to it to make a final decision tomorrow whether to support the changes.

Mr Abhisit yesterday said there were both proponents and opponents of the proposed changes. It was normal to have differences of opinion within the party, he said.

The prime minister said the Democrats will hold talks with their coalition partners after tomorrow to try and find common ground.

Observers say the Democrats might have to yield to their coalition partners' demands to change two sections of the constitution if they are to maintain unity.

The junior parties want to amend Section 94 of the constitution to change the electoral system from large multi-seat constituencies to single-seat districts.

They also want to amend Section 190, which requires the government to seek parliamentary approval before signing international agreements.

Mr Abhisit denied suggestions that he would dissolve the House if the coalition partners failed to iron out their differences over the amendments.

Suwat Liptapanlop, a key figure in the Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana Party, said Banharn Silpa-archa, chief adviser to the Chart Thai Pattana Party, would today meet Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana leader Wannarat Charnnukul and party secretary-general Pradit Phataraprasit to discuss the amendments.

Mr Suwat, the party's de facto leader, said the charter review process did not need to lead to conflict among the coalition partners.

He also denied speculation that the smaller coalition parties would desert the government to join the opposition Puea Thai Party if the Democrats refused to yield to their demands to change the constitution.

Interior Minister and Bhumjaithai Party leader Chavarat Charnvirakul said his party would wait for the Democrats to show their hand.

New Politics Party spokesman Samran Rodpetch urged the Democrats not to give in to demands to amend the charter.

Mr Samran confirmed his party's opposition to the proposed charter changes. He said there was a hidden agenda behind the changes that could divide the nation.