Pheu Thai free to exploit system to form alliances: Wissanu

[webfact]

Pheu Thai free to exploit system to form alliances: Wissanu

By KAS CHANWANPEN 
THE NATION 

 

file photo

 

DEPUTY Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam yesterday admitted that any attempt by parties to form alliances in order to secure MP seats was within the law.
 

Even if the allied parties had the same political roots, they still had different leaders and policies and hence would be considered different entities, according to deputy PM Wissanu, in charge of the government’s legal affairs.

 

“There’s nothing illegal about it,” he said. “If they have the capital and the capability, they can form more parties. It’s nothing strange. There have always been cases like that. It’s just that we never felt it was this obvious.”

 

Wissanu went on to say the move was clearly to collect as many votes as possible, but if they saw an opportunity to do so they were free to pursue it.

 

His comments came after the emergence of two political parties – Pheu Tham and Pheu Chart – who are believed to be allies of Pheu Thai. It has been said that these parties were created specifically to help Pheu Thai gain party-list MP seats.

 

The tactic of chasing party-list MP seats follows the introduction of a new election system – Mixed Members Apportionment (MMA) – in the new Constitution. 

 

There is speculation that bigger parties such as Pheu Thai and Democrat might suffer a loss of MPs in the new system, while medium-sized parties could see a rise in their number of party-list members.

 

Under the new system, all votes will be counted when the MP seats are allocated to each party. If a party already has a number of constituency MPs, it is likely that it would not have the enough quota to also seat its list MPs. 

 

One initial calculation has suggested that it will take about 70,000 votes to secure each seat. 

 

Influenced by the MMA system, it is said that Pheu Thai might focus on winning constituencies, while its allies Pheu Tham and Pheu Chart would chase party-list MPs on their behalf.

 

Stithorn Thananitichot, an expert from King Prajadhipok’s Institute, explained that this model is possible because Pheu Thai is the only party that is likely to win a large number of constituencies.

 

Pheu Thai could forget about the number 70,000 votes to get a seat, he said, and simply focus on winning constituencies which actually only requires some 51,000 votes to win the seat, not 70,000. This would equate to the minimum number of votes achieving the greatest benefit, Stithorn explained.

 

“After all, it is one seat, all the same,” he said. “Then, Pheu Thai could give those 20,000 others to its allies in order to get the list MPs.”

He said he was basing his numbers on the statistics for the 2010 election, when Pheu Thai had 14 million votes and won 204 constituencies.

 

“With the single-ballot system, 14 million votes mean Pheu Thai could get 200 seats but Pheu Thai has the ability to win 200 constituencies already, according to previous statistics,” Stithorn explained. 

 

“So, if on average it requires only 51,000 [votes] to win a constituency, then 200 seats would only require 10 million votes. It has four million votes that could be distributed to its allies that otherwise would be just a waste if Pheu Thai kept them.”

 

Stithorn also expected big-name politicians to stay with Pheu That as a constituency candidate rather than migrating to its allied parties since the party was already giving up on the list MPs to its allies. Although it might seem like a downgrade, he said being a constituency MP was still better than not being an MP at all.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30356058

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-10-09

[Samui Bodoh]

"...DEPUTY Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam yesterday admitted that any attempt by parties to form alliances in order to secure MP seats was within the law... 

...There’s nothing illegal about it,” he said. “If they have the capital and the capability, they can form more parties. It’s nothing strange. There have always been cases like that. It’s just that we never felt it was this obvious...”

 

"Its just that we never felt it was this obvious".

 

Funny, Wissanu's comment was regrading recent moves by the PTP. What I found interesting was how "obvious" he is being in usurping the role of the Electoral Commission (EC); you know, that 'independent' organization that handles all things electoral to ensure fairness and avoid the appearance of outside, unfair influence?

 

If Wassanu/the Junta are going to 'interpret' election law, why bother to have an EC at all?

 

Just askin'...

 

[zzaa09]

Still, this action could prove quite interesting. 

 

All the opposing parties have one common thread, even if they might differ on items here and there. 

They just might have more joint interests, as a collective, than not. 

 

Unfortunately, the selfish manner of politics will get in the way of any unified goal.

[yellowboat]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Although it might seem like a downgrade, he said being a constituency MP was still better than not being an MP at all.

Or the abomination of being an unelected MP or unelected PM

[Esso49]

Just now, yellowboat said:

Or the abomination of being an unelected MP or unelected PM

But an entire unelected government is worse 

[fullcave]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Pheu Thai free to exploit system to form alliances

Like the Junta? Great but you'll have some catching up to do.

[Eric Loh]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

DEPUTY Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam yesterday admitted that any attempt by parties to form alliances in order to secure MP seats was within the law.

Just trying to put on a brave front to cover the embarrassment that the junta has again being outwitted by PTP. I am sure Prayut didn't think of that when they re-wrote the new electoral system to prevent PTP taking the majority. With the surplus votes, it will benefit PTP's allied parties and possible decimate ACT and PPP. No wonder Prayut has chickened out stating his political future. He probably wouldn't even want to be considered as nominated PM. He can't swallow a big fall from grace and power. 

[Srikcir]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

It’s just that we never felt it was this obvious.”

TRANSLATION:

Until the PTP discovered this loophole that the pro-military political parties were using to PTP's advantage.

[yellowboat]

6 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

Just trying to put on a brave front to cover the embarrassment that the junta has again being outwitted by PTP. I am sure Prayut didn't think of that when they re-wrote the new electoral system to prevent PTP taking the majority. With the surplus votes, it will benefit PTP's allied parties and possible decimate ACT and PPP. No wonder Prayut has chickened out stating his political future. He probably wouldn't even want to be considered as nominated PM. He can't swallow a big fall from grace and power. 

That is what is worrying.  If the big coward, gets appointed, the torrential dumbing down of Thailand and restrictions will see no end.  If he loses in a big fashion, it will be a triumph of good over mind numbing stupidity, but there will be a back lash.  Would love to see usurper lose, but, for the good of Thailand, his face needs to be intact.  Tricky days lay ahead

[Bluespunk]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Pheu Thai could forget about the number 70,000 votes to get a seat, he said, and simply focus on winning constituencies which actually only requires some 51,000 votes to win the seat, not 70,000. This would equate to the minimum number of votes achieving the greatest benefit, Stithorn explained.

 

“After all, it is one seat, all the same,” he said. “Then, Pheu Thai could give those 20,000 others to its allies in order to get the list MPs.”

A political party can give votes, cast for their party, to another party?

 

Which moron came up with that system?

[Eric Loh]

35 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

A political party can give votes, cast for their party, to another party?

 

Which moron came up with that system?

For that you have to thank Meechai and his CDC team for coming up with a election system that is truly Thai innovation and 'not exist in anywhere in the world' in the words of CDC adviser Jade Donavanik. 

[Cadbury]

2 hours ago, Srikcir said:

TRANSLATION:

Until the PTP discovered this loophole that the pro-military political parties were using to PTP's advantage.

Still time for a new Article 44 law to close down this loophole for all parties other than those connected to Team Prayut. The audacity of such a move would come as no surprise. 

The junta never shows any shame or guilt in playing dirty when it comes to election tactics.

[candide]

1 hour ago, Bluespunk said:

A political party can give votes, cast for their party, to another party?

 

Which moron came up with that system?

I am not sure that's what it means.  I think it means they will put two candidates in constituencies were they expect to have many votes. Example: in a given constituency they expect 70% of votes. If they have two candidates from two allied parties, they may get 38% for one and 32% for the other. One party gets a seat with only 38% of votes, and the votes for the other party also count as party list votes. As their electorate is geographically concentrated, it makes sense. Actually they could get more MP seats than before with the same number of votes. It would be interesting to modelize it.

[robblok]

The junta is exploiting the system its only fair to let the PTP do the same. Its what they all do.. exploit systems and moan about the other party doing it while they themselves do it too. 

 

its just funny to watch bunch of hypocrites.