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320464
Wed, 03/12/2014 - 15:09
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Bangkok's Constitution Court rules against Bt2t loan bill

BANGKOK, March 12 (TNA) - Bangkok's Constitution Court has ruled that the government’s 2-trillion-baht borrowing bill to fund new mega-infrastructure development projects over the next seven years, mostly in the transport sector, violates the Constitution. According to Chaowana Traimas, Secretary-General of the Constitution Court, the nine-judge panel handling the case ruled unanimously on Wednesday that the issuance of the bill violated the Thai Charter and also ruled by six votes to two that the process to pass the bill was illegal; so, the bill was dismissed. The bill, authorizing the Ministry of Finance to borrow about 2 trillion baht to pay for new mega-infrastructure development projects, earlier obtained the consent of the Thai House of Representatives and the Senate, including a plan to fund high-speed railway projects in the country. But before the bill was proposed to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej for final approval, the Democrat Party asked the court to consider its constitutionality. Meanwhile, the Constitution Court also received a request from the Election Commission of Thailand (EC) for its ruling on unrealized polling in 28 constituencies in the Thai South and another request from the ombudsmen for it to nullify the general election on February 2, 2014. Caretaker Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt said that the court's ruling would not cause any obligation to the caretaker government because the Parliament had already passed the bill, and that new transport projects, including high-speed railways should, however, be carried on, while Caretaker Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan suggested that the new government seek normal budget from the 2015 fiscal year to fund the new mega-projects. Caretaker Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra later expressed her regret that the new 2-trillion-baht infrastructure development projects will be, thus, delayed, insisting that her administration did the best and other parties should look at its intention and should not use laws to infringe others’ rights. The caretaker prime minister also said she would study the court’s ruling and consulted with the Council of State before deciding what should be done subsequently. In response to reports that the Democrat Party plans to impeach her due to the case, the caretaker prime minister called for understanding and justice. (TNA)

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