Charter debate needs rescheduling: Jurin

The Parliament should limit the charter amendment debate to one day a week so it can focus on other legislative agendas, opposition chief whip Jurin Laksanawisit said yesterday.

“I propose that the debate take place every Tuesday,” he said.

Very slow progress has been made on the second reading of the charter amendment bill over the past eight days, with some 100 opposition MPs reserving their right to discuss each clause.

The debate has been suspended until next Tuesday to allow the lower and upper chambers to conduct respective legislative sessions.

Jurin said the debate should be rescheduled so as not to interfere with legislative work. He also suggested that parliamentary whips should meet and thrash out differences before the debate on each draft provision.

The Opposition is seen as using filibuster tactics to challenge the government’s majority. Thus far, the government has conceded to the Opposition’s demand for using senatorial rules for the election of the Constitution Drafting Assembly. The coalition and the Opposition have yet to strike a deal on two remaining issues – the rules to pick 22 charter writers from a pool of academics and professionals and whether the charter draft should be vetted by Parliament before the referendum vote.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Charter-debate-needs-rescheduling-Jurin-30180822.html