NLA president Pornpetch Wichitcholachai said preparation of the new list of members came under the junta’s authority, and he trusted it would give all potential candidates its best consideration, taking all factors and legislative needs into account.

Pornpetch downplayed concerns that those coming in would have military connections, especially officers who are due to retire next month.

“But if they are [military officers], you should not feel sickened as several military turned senators are performing well at present,” Pornpetch said.

The NLA voted unanimously to approve the regime-proposed amendment of the 2014 Interim Constitution to allow 30 more members to sit on the Assembly.

The agenda passed three readings straight with 189 votes and three abstentions to amend three related sections under the interim charter, although NLA vice president Surachai Liengboonlertchai said earlier he was worried the public would see the move as the NCPO trying to retain power.

The motion was proposed by the Cabinet and the NCPO to allow extra seats in the NLA from the current 220 up to 250 in order to expedite the passing of new laws.

Representing the Cabinet and the NCPO at yesterday’s meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan said both bodies would like to help the NLA speed up its work as its workload would increase after the constitution draft is promulgated.

Hence, more hands should be added to the Assembly, he said.

180 bills to pass before election

Another Deputy PM, Wissanu Krea-ngam, said that in the next 16 months before a general election, at least 180 bills would pass through the chamber including organic laws required by the new constitution, and those related to the government’s steering policies.

Wissanu, a legal expert, said that besides the bills needing careful deliberation, the work also involved a set timeframe. Some need to be completed within four months, with others in eight months or one year, he added.

Experts from various fields would be necessary to help finish the work effectively and on time, Wissanu explained.

The 250 seats would be sufficient to serve the purpose and was the same number as the new Senate to be selected by the NCPO, as laid out in the new constitution, he added.

The NLA is a legislative chamber appointed by the coup-maker NCPO since July 2014. According to a royal decree published in the Royal Gazette, each NLA member receives a monthly allowance of between Bt113,560 and Bt125,590.

NLA member Somchai Sawangkarn said that there were some 300 to 400 bills waiting to be revised, and an additional 30 legislators would help lighten that load. He insisted the budget for monthly and meeting allowances would not be wasteful. The state budget spent on the NLA was less than one third of what the elected Parliament used to enjoy, whereas the NLA had accomplished more, Somchai claimed.

He said it was not a move to exploit the NLA for anyone’s personal interest.Pornpetch, meanwhile, said of the ongoing amendment of the charter draft to integrate the additional question that paves the way for the 250 handpicked senators to jointly select a Prime Minister in the first five years after an election, saying he would leave the matter to the Constitutional Court, and be ready to give it further input if called.

The work is in the hands of the Constitution Drafting Commission.