Thai ruling party seeks to win over coalition through constitutional amendments

Bangkok, Apr.21 (ANI): Thailand's ruling Democrat Party is looking at the drafting of a new "people's constitution" to break the present political deadlock.

While some party senior executives, including chief adviser and former prime minister Chuan Leekpai, are opposed to proposals forwarded by junior coalition members to amend two sections of the 2007 constitution and dissolve the lower house in six months, the Democrats' executive has instead agreed that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban should approach the party's coalition partners with a proposal to draw up a new charter.

Democrat adviser and former party leader Banyat Bantadtan proposed the idea of drafting a new constitution at a meeting yesterday of party members and the party's cabinet ministers to discuss the political situation and the proposed charter amendments, a party source said.

Banyat suggested the new "people's constitution" should be modelled on the 2007 and the1997 charters.

All sectors of society, including the anti-government red shirts, should be involved in the drafting of the new constitution, the source said.

Banyat believed the initiative of a new charter would gain greater public support than the amendment of just two sections of the present constitution. (ANI)