Constitution Court judges back 2010 Budget Bill in 8-1 verdict

       The Constitution Court yesterday upheld the 2010 Budget Bill's legal status by a near unanimous 8-1 vote.
       The verdict rejected Pheu Thai MP Surapong Tovijakchaikul's argument that the bill was unconstitutional because Bt22 billion had been added to the budget without proper explanation.
       Surapong made his case to the court on Wednesday that the unspecified spending increase might benefit government MPs or House committee members directly or indirectly.
       Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij and Trairong Suwankhiri, vice chairman of the House committee vetting the Budget Bill, defended the legislation.
       The Constitution Court took about one hour to deliberate on the case before handing down the 8-1 judgement that the bill did not contravene Article 168 of the Constitution.
       The court said it found that the spending increase in the budget was not intended to benefit any MPs or House committee members.
       Earlier Surapong said the House committee's approval of the Bt22-billion increase in the budget without indicating details of the spending violated Article 168, because it could constitute a conspiracy among the committee members.
       "If the court rules this did violate the Constitution, then whether Parliament will be dissolved is up to the prime minister. In 1937, the Budget Bill failed to win approval, and the House was dissolved," he said.