Parliament Schedules Key Discussions on Constitutional Amendments and Anti-Corruption Measures

BANGKOK: The National Assembly of Thailand has set crucial dates for discussing significant legislative amendments, including constitutional changes and anti-corruption measures. A joint parliamentary meeting has been scheduled for December 20, 2024, to address these pressing issues, with further deliberations on constitutional amendments to follow in January. According to Thai News Agency, the President of the National Assembly, Mr. Wan Muhammad Noor Matha, announced the decision after a meeting involving key political figures, including representatives from the Cabinet, the Senate, and the House of Representatives. The December meeting will focus on three primary agendas: the draft of the Organic Act on the Prevention and Suppression of Corruption, which has been proposed by the Cabinet and is due to expire on March 9, 2025; an alternative anti-corruption draft proposed by Mr. Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn of the Prachachon Party; and the second protocol to amend the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area agr eement. The December session is expected to last approximately four and a half hours, primarily dedicated to setting up a committee to consider the free trade agreement amendments. The following joint parliamentary session is slated for January 14 and 15, 2025, where the focus will shift to the draft bill aimed at amending the constitution. This agenda includes 20 bills related to individual article amendments, with potential proposals from both the opposition and the government to amend the entire bill. Preparations for these discussions will continue with a meeting of the three whips scheduled for January 8, 2025, to ensure the readiness of the agenda and to allocate debate time for each party involved.