Thailand court dismisses constitutional changes

(Vatican Radio) Thailand’s Constitutional Court on Friday dismissed petitions against constitutional changes proposed by the government. The ruling left the way open for parts of the constitution to be changed. However, if the government intends to get an elected assembly to overhaul the whole constitution, a referendum will be needed.

Vatican Radio spoke with Dr Apichart Intravisit of Assumption University in Bangkok to clarify the situation.

“The result from the constitutional court,” he explained, “leads to no violence, and I would say it is quite impartial, and it makes both parties concerned. Meaning: those who brought this to the court and those effected, nobody gets hurt.”

“Any amendment of the constitution, or anything concerned with the constitution in court, or of constitutional concerns with the constitution should be brought up with the constitutional court automatically because earlier there was some argument about whether we should send this to the attorney general, or if the attorney general gave us a green light, why the constitutional court had to object.”

According to the constitutional court ruling, “anything [concerning the ] constitution, any amendment on the constitution can be automatically sent to the constitutional court.”

However, with the favourable response of the stock index, Dr Apichart concludes “that should indicate a positive atmosphere in the country.”

Listen to Dr Apichart Intravisit’s full interview with Ann Schneible here: