A block to democracy – and stability

By The Nation

 

 

Appointed Senate has been designed to perpetuate junta rule, but it could also undermine it 
 

The process to select a new Senate has caused widespread dismay among citizens desperate for transparency and public participation in politics.

 

Only 7,200 people from across the country have applied for posts in the upper house, far fewer than the 10,000 expected by the Election Commission (EC). The figure is especially disappointing given the huge public budget of Bt1.3 billion allocated for the selection process.

 

Yet whatever the number of applicants, the Senate selection remains one of the most serious mistakes made by a government in Thai political history. Rather than seeking qualified experts to scrutinise legislation with wisdom, dignity and integrity, the junta wants an obedient bloc to serve to perpetuate its power.

 

Worse still, rather than putting candidates to a national vote, the junta will handpick 250 nominees to sit in a Senate and oversee a democratically elected lower chamber. 

 

According to the Constitution’s clauses for “democratic” transition, all members of the inaugural Senate, whose term is five years, will be appointed by the ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).

 

Of the 250 senators, 50 will be voted in by fellow applicants and 194 appointed by a selection committee, while the six remaining seats will go to the commanders-in-chief of the Armed Forces, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, the Defence Ministry permanent secretary and the National Police chief.

 

Their main task will be to scrutinise bills before they become law. But this Senate has also been designed to play a role in selecting the prime minister. If the lower house is unable to reach agreement on a nominee after the election, the charter empowers senators to join the vote with MPs to select a PM.

 

This arrangement delivers a severe blow to hopes for democracy, since it hands appointed lawmakers the same power as elected MPs who have a mandate from the people.

 

A handpicked Senate is hardly unusual in Thai political history. In fact it wasn’t until the 1997 Constitution passed that Thailand elected all senators. Typically a mixed system of election and selection has prevailed. But never has an appointed Senate been handed the crucial role of helping pick the head of government.

 

Even with that power in the offing, fewer than expected applied. 

 

Former constitution drafter Chartchai na Chiangmai said he thought the low number of applications was due to a lack of motivation among would-be candidates.

 

Many of them opted not to apply because it is the NCPO that will select 50 of the 200 candidates short-listed by fellow applicants from 10 professions. 

 

“They see no motivation for them to apply. They are sceptical [and see] that in the end the NCPO may not appoint them,” Chartchai said.

 

Thanks to the low level of public participation and the opaque selection process, the junta will no doubt find 250 senators who will back its extended rule. Even more crucial, the junta has the voters in its pocket needed to secure a new head of government. Along with the 250 Senators, the pro-junta parties need only win 125 seats in the lower house to install their choice as the new prime minister of Thailand.

 

But the bad news for the new government is that the Senate has no authority to join the lower house in voting to pass laws. Hence the first Senate since the 2014 coup will not only be undemocratic, it will also jeopardise the stability of the new government.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/opinion/30359865

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-12-05

Why even bother, they could save time, known result. Just  call up 250 known conformers.

Whoever is appointed will forever be known as an un-Democratic stooge who bends over on demand.

 

There might as well be a tattoo put on their forehead;

 

"I am a whore"

 

 

 

Edited December 4, 20187 yr by Samui Bodoh

The writing of the constitution, which passed off at the time as not so important, can now be seen for what it is. True dictatorship. These 'principles according to which the nation is to be governed' are unjust, undemocratic and unwanted. Perhaps now the people understand.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Rather than seeking qualified experts to scrutinise legislation with wisdom, dignity and integrity, the junta wants an obedient bloc to serve

while true, this can generally be said of thai politics and leadership; an ingrained attribute

the potential nominees who, lets say [haven't bothered] are really holding back! ... because when the poo pile all eventually falls flat; they want to remain viable in the public's eyes, as to not being at this time seen as Vichy piggies at the food trough

Edited December 5, 20187 yr by tifino

3 hours ago, webfact said:

194 appointed by a selection committee

Selection committee members are junta-appointed.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30356203

Prayut might more honestly run the Senate candidacy process out of the PM's Office.

Only pro-military need apply. Simple.

You can put lipstick on a pig and parade it around as 'Democracy', but anyone with a functioning brain will recognize it as a pig.

Who cares, next coup is coming in a few years anyway. A time honored tradition here.

The pathetic 'Nation' editorials - where they act oh-so pious and pretend that the junta has made 'a mistake' in the way they have stitched up the Senate-appointment process. It was not a 'mistake' - it was a dastardly plan of continued d....i....nosaurship right from the start. And did the 'Nation' newspaper call out the travesty of justice that was the 'referendum' on the 'Constitution' at the time? Did The Nation ever question the contents of the 'Constitution'? Did The Nation ever question the veracity of the referendum 'result', where the junta - and solely the junta - declared the figures to stand at over 62% of the people voting for that treasonous Constitution? Did The Nation ever even hint at doing some investigative reporting into who counted the votes of that 'referendum', who oversaw its probity, and who decided on the final percentage score that was to be announced to the Thai public? Of course not!

 

Papers like The Nation - that supported the coup as it was happening and for years after it happened - make me sick. They and that bogus 'democrat', Abhisit, make suitably sleazy bedfellows.

 

Edited December 5, 20187 yr by Eligius

14 hours ago, webfact said:

Hence the first Senate since the 2014 coup will not only be undemocratic, it will also jeopardise the stability of the new government.

Nobody with any sense is expecting any good news from the current buffoons in Thai officialdom.  Those of us who were outraged in 2014 can only say:  We told you so.  Ruining a perfectly good country.