NLA to vote today on new EC members

[webfact]

NLA to vote today on new EC members

By The Nation

 

Seven new Election Commissioners will be voted on by the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) on Thursday. The decision and the vote would be made at a conclave.

 

The candidates in contention are: Takorn Tantasith, Ruangwit Katesuwan, Issaree Hancharoonroj, Chompan Pongcharoen Sutheerachat, Pracha Terat, Chatchai Chanpraisri and Pakorn Mahannop.

 

They had made the final list from 41 candidates in December. A spokesman for the inspecting committee, Somchai Sawangkarn, said on Wednesday that the credentials of all the candidates were sound and they were all qualified to join the Election Commission if endorsed by the NLA.

 

However, it depended on the NLA whether to pick all the seven candidates, Somchai said.

 

Somchai explained with an example that if the NLA voted in favour of five people, their nominations would be submitted for royal endorsement. The selection committee, meanwhile, would find two more candidates to fill up the vacancies, he said.

 

After the new commissioners were officially approved, the current batch would leave office, he said.

 

The replacement of the EC members was required by the new organic law governing the agency.

 

Somchai elaborated that after scrutiny all the seven finalists were found to be clean. He clarified that although Takorn, who is currently the secretary-general of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), had 300 lawsuits against him they were all administrative cases resulting from his position at the NBTC, and not for crime or immoral activities.

 

Ruangwit, the former rector of Chaiyaphum Rajabhat University, has been accused of frequently missing meetings. However, his absence was due to health reasons and he had produced medical certificates, Somchai said.

 

The two candidates selected by judges of the Supreme Court, Chatchai and Pakorn, were controversial after questions were raised if the selection process was constitutional.

 

The Court had insisted that the process was in line with the supreme law. The NLA inspecting committee agreed that they did not need to discuss the matter as it was not within their authority.

 

Candidates who get a majority of votes would become the new EC members.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30339435

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-02-22

[BigBadGeordie]

16 minutes ago, webfact said:

The decision and the vote would be made at a conclave

I suppose we will just have to wait for the white smoke.

[Eric Loh]

ANother NACC in the making. How many crony agencies are out there not appointed by the junta. 

[Srikcir]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Somchai elaborated that after scrutiny all the seven finalists were found to be clean.

Except for the fact that their qualifications and selection are made through a political conflict of interest by an organization that serves by fiat through junta appointment. Once again the people of Thailand are not part of the process that establishes institutions that presumably serve the people's sovereignty.

[smutcakes]

News is that all of them were rejected so another delay perhaps. Bit of a catch 22 really. The selection process is opaque, non inclusive, and the names put forward are well known friends of the current powers. On that hand its good it was rejected. On the other hand it will no doubt mean another delay. I am sure they are all well aware of this.

[yellowboat]

26 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

Except for the fact that their qualifications and selection are made through a political conflict of interest by an organization that serves by fiat through junta appointment. Once again the people of Thailand are not part of the process that establishes institutions that presumably serve the people's sovereignty.

Yes, they just make the red shirts and Shinawatras look better and better.  Suthep is right.  The junta will lose to the reds in an election and what you just stated is why.