Thailand sets date for impeachment of former MPs

Former Thai PM Yingluck Shinawatra speaks at the first hearing of impeachment proceedings by the National Legislative Assembly in January 2015 (Source: AFP/VNA) 

The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) of Thailand announced on August 6 that it will vote on the impeachment of 248 ex-lawmakers, the majority from the ousted ruling party of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on August 14.

The former Members of Parliament (MPs) are accused of supporting an amendment to the country's charter aimed at making the upper house a fully elected chamber that was later deemed unconstitutional.

They will face a five-year ban from politics if the NLA votes in favour of impeachment.

The assembly has finished hearing the case against the former MPs and
will vote on August 14, NLA speaker Jetn Siritharanont said, adding that a successful impeachment requires 132 out of 220 assembly members to vote
in favour.

In early March this year, 38 senators were not impeached over the same issue due to lack of votes in favour.-VNA