MP election draft returns to NLA with few proposed changes

By THE NATION

 

 

THE NATIONAL Legislative Assembly (NLA) committee vetting the MP election bill draft will take final consideration of the whole law this week before delivering it for its second and third readings next week.

Among suggestions for changes to the draft made during its first reading last November was to include an article empowering the Election Commission (EC) to immediately investigate an MP candidate accused of committing acts of graft, without the need for court-issued warrants.

 

NLA vetting committee spokesperson Thaweesak Soothkawathin said that while the law already authorised the EC as a state official under the Criminal Code, they still need court warrants to investigate.

 

While this issue has yet to come to a conclusion, some committee members viewed that giving that power to the EC would grant them overwhelming authority. The suggestions for amendments to the MP election bill draft also included prohibition against “dishonest opinion polls” on the election. “Any poll can be conducted [under] the EC regulation but it must contain no bias,” Thaweesak said.

 

The vetting committee also agreed with the NLA to delete a clause that would refund candidates their deposits if they received more than five per cent of votes. However, they chose to maintain requirements for candidates to declare tax payment records dating back three years.

 

While the NLA also suggested that candidates be allowed to register an online election campaign, the vetting committee merely noted that any campaign is prohibited three days before voting day. 

 

Any further proposals could be submitted on EC forms, Thaweesak said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30335634

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-01-08

 

6 hours ago, webfact said:

they chose to maintain requirements for candidates to declare tax payment records dating back three years.

Maybe we'll see Prayut's tax records?

6 hours ago, webfact said:

The suggestions for amendments to the MP election bill draft also included prohibition against “dishonest opinion polls” on the election. “Any poll can be conducted [under] the EC regulation but it must contain no bias,” Thaweesak said.

 

Who and how is a bias determined? But isn't that what opinion polls conducted under the auspice of the party, done to create a bias?

6 minutes ago, Chris Lawrence said:

 

Who and how is a bias determined? But isn't that what opinion polls conducted under the auspice of the party, done to create a bias?

Giving the amendment a shred of credibility, I thought "bias" might refer to the poll question such as "Do you trust lying Prayut?" as opposed to "Do you trust Prayut?" The former could be seen as a biased question that might taint the response.

 

But while the question may have no bias, an answer could (and should) as it reflects personal opinion molded by whatever biases the respondent may have. As the amendment cites "polls conducted," that seems to imply the complete poll process that includes BOTH the question and response.

• So if the question was "Do you trust Prayut?" and any response was "No," that might render the poll in violation of the law. Not such an extreme interpretation considering the current aggressive constraints on freedom of expression.

As you've notice what we have been told about this amendment, its details are very thin and specific purpose not stated. But certainly the amendment seems in line with my expectation of sever restrictions on political campaigns to attract voters.

5 hours ago, Srikcir said:

Maybe we'll see Prayut's tax records?

What tax records lol