100 or 500: How seat calculation method could decide Thai election winner

[webfact]

 

By Thai PBS World’s Political Desk

 

Thaksin Shinawatra’s recent boast that his proxy party Pheu Thai could win by a landslide at the next general election, expected early next year, seems to have scared leaders in the ruling coalition.

 

The fear apparently prompted them to make a last-minute change to the draft election bill, by switching the formula used to calculate how many votes are needed for a party to earn one of the 100 party-list MP seats in Parliament.

 

Parliament last Wednesday (July 6) voted to approve a proposal by New Palang Dharma Party leader Ravee Maschamadol to divide the total number of party-list votes by 500, rather than 100 as originally proposed. The 500 figure is the total number of MP seats in Parliament.

 

Ravee cited the Constitution’s principle that “every vote counts”, though he admitted his proposal would also ensure smaller parties could win seats with fewer votes while reducing the chances of a landslide win by a large party.

 

The Constitution was amended last year to change the composition of the next Lower House from 350 constituency MPs and 150 party-list MPs to 400 and 100 respectively.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/100-or-500-how-seat-calculation-method-could-decide-thai-election-winner/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-07-13

 

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[Thailand]

The guys who normally wear uniforms and  will "win" the next election-again!

[Excel]

12 minutes ago, Thailand said:

The guys who normally wear uniforms

and carry guns

[Misterwhisper]

Just go rub some tree barks, see what numbers reveal themselves and then allocate those seats accordingly. It's not rocket science, really. Every country bumpkin knows how to do it (though admittedly for another purpose).

[Laughing Gravy]

Thai Democracy. An embarrassment to the modern world.

[Srikcir]

As the article points out, the method of calculation is prescribed in the Constitution. So what the Parliament votes as a change does not in itself change the Constitution. There will have to be a Parliament and Senate vote for a Constitutional Amendment.

 

Considering that the current 2017 Constitution was approved by public referendum in 2016 (for 61% vs against 39%) that would include present day seat calculation, an amendment without another referendum might be very contentious, especially with more political opposition to the current pro-military political coalition in Parliament.

 

While a junta-appointed Senate will guarantee an amendment, without another referendum the pro-military Parliament coalition might collapse even further. That's a risk to Prayut's regime.

[RichardColeman]

3 hours ago, Srikcir said:

As the article points out, the method of calculation is prescribed in the Constitution. So what the Parliament votes as a change does not in itself change the Constitution. There will have to be a Parliament and Senate vote for a Constitutional Amendment.

 

Considering that the current 2017 Constitution was approved by public referendum in 2016 (for 61% vs against 39%) that would include present day seat calculation, an amendment without another referendum might be very contentious, especially with more political opposition to the current pro-military political coalition in Parliament.

 

While a junta-appointed Senate will guarantee an amendment, without another referendum the pro-military Parliament coalition might collapse even further. That's a risk to Prayut's regime.

yes, yes, yes, or another coup 

[Lucky Bones]

9 hours ago, Thailand said:

The guys who normally wear uniforms and  will "win" the next election-again!

They only wear look-alike military uniforms and 20 Baht badges on Monday.

All other days are off bounds.