Pheu Thai has withdrawn its constitutional amendment bill from parliament after Bhumjaithai withdrew 30 supporting signatures. The party plans to hold internal discussions and reopen talks with Bhumjaithai to reach a clear and final agreement, emphasizing it will not create rifts in the coalition government's work.
At 11:30 a.m. on 4 June 2026 at the parliament. Mr. Chulapan Amornwiwat, Minister of Labour and leader of the Pheu Thai Party, addressed the issue of Bhumjaithai Party withdrawing their support signatures for Pheu Thai's constitutional amendment bill. . (Fragment, no additional content) He acknowledged there has been a change since the original signatures were submitted by seven parties. With some members withdrawing their names, this must be accepted as their right to do so. This does not affect the coalition's relationships. Pheu Thai will hold a meeting next week. Amending the constitution requires cooperation and consensus, needing more than half of the parliament's votes and one-third of the Senate's approval. It is not just about the 30 votes from Bhumjaithai, but also about the core coalition parties and the Senate, all of whom need to carefully reconsider and discuss to reach a consensus. It must be accepted that Pheu Thai only holds 74 seats and cannot submit the bill alone. The final draft will likely align with Bhumjaithai’s proposal. This is not an issue of principle but a political equation.
When asked if forcing the submission of Pheu Thai’s bill could lead to its dismissal at the initial stage, Mr. Chulapan said Pheu Thai works with clear goals. Their aim is to drive constitutional amendments forward. While there is a constitutional drafting assembly representing the people, at this moment, submitting the amendment bill is premature. They need to review and consult various parties to find a resolution. There are many mechanisms to work through. They ask for a short time to discuss internally, including with Bhumjaithai.
Mr. Chulapan also affirmed there is no conflict because Bhumjaithai has expressed concerns. They anticipated this situation and, once it happened, they must listen. Bhumjaithai has over 190 seats and is a main party for legal reforms. He emphasized that Bhumjaithai’s withdrawal of signatures does not impact coalition work because it was forewarned. They knew beforehand that submission would not be possible due to the 30 changed signatures, so they will wait to clarify through further discussions.
When asked if this withdrawal means adjusting the composition of the constitutional drafting assembly to align with Bhumjaithai's bill for progress, Mr. Chulapan replied it does not necessarily mean that. They will let time provide the answer. It requires joint approval by members. Regarding criticism that Pheu Thai has compromised principles and been dominated by Bhumjaithai, he said there are still many differing opinions regardless of whose draft it is. Constitutional amendment cannot begin with conflict. Common ground must be preserved and areas of agreement found to move forward together. If it starts with confrontation, the amendment will never succeed. Their approach is to gather support from opposition and government members alike, fostering cooperation from all sides to push constitutional reform into reality. . (No translatable content)