CONSTITUTION

Politicians seek rule over new province
15/02/2011

A group of lawmakers are petitioning the Constitution Court for a ruling on whether the creation of a new province in the Northeast violates the constitution.

The spokesman for the Puea Pandin Party, Alongkot Maneekas, said yesterday he had submitted a petition to the court through parliament president Chai Chidchob.

The petition asks the court to decide whether the law to create the new province, which has passed its third readings in the lower house and Senate, is in breach of the charter.

The petition was signed by more than 70 senators and MPs, largely from the Puea Pandin and Puea Thai parties.

Mr Alongkot said the lawmakers and some academics had agreed that the creation of the new province, to be sliced from Nong Khai and named Bung Kan, could have an adverse effect on the election of MPs.

He said the calculation of the number of voters must be based on a census taken in the year before a general election.

If the law to create this new province takes effect this year, the calculation must adhere to the population registry of Nong Khai last year, which could cause confusion, Mr Alongkot said.

He said Section 10 of the new law stipulates that the member for Nong Khai's Constituency 2 would run for election in Bung Kan.

The new province would be made up of eight districts of Nong Khai: Bung Kan, Bung Khla, Bung Khong Long, Pak Khat, Phon Charoen, Seka, Si Wilai and So Phisai.

The creation of the new province would have significant political implications for the Bhumjaithai Party and other government coalition parties that hope to gain an advantage over Puea Thai in securing more seats in the Northeast.

Mr Alongkot also said the new law would affect the appointment and election of senators. The Senate consists of 150 members, with one elected from each of the 76 provinces and the rest appointed by a selection committee.

With the introduction of a 77th province, there would be 77 elected senators. If the number of 74 appointed senators is to be retained, the total number of senators would come to 151, which would be in breach of the charter, Mr Alongkot said.

bangkokpost.com