The junta-appointed lawmakers have voted to include a motion on the right of senators to vote to approve PM. 

On Thursday, 7 April 2016, 142 of 167 members of the National Legislative Assembly in attendance voted to have the motion included in the referendum, scheduled to be held in August. The motion asks voters whether they think the parliament, both MPs and senators, should jointly vote to approve the prime minister, reported the National Assembly Radio Station and Television Broadcast Station. 

The motion is “In order to create continuity in the national reform process, in accordance with national strategic plan, do you agree that, in the first five years, from the day that the first parliament takes place according to this constitution, the parliament has the right to approve a person who should be appointed as Prime Minister?”

According to the latest draft constitution, the military will appoint a selection committee who will appoint 250 senators who will serve a five-year term. 

The NLA has submitted the question to Election Commission of Thailand.

The NLA said the question is necessary in concretizing the national reform process, adding that there needs to be a mechanism to supervise national reform and make sure that it will run consistently for the maximum benefit of the people. 

If the question passes the referendum, it will be added to the provisional clauses of the constitution.