Pheu Thai Party defends ethics in political face-off

[webfact]

The Pheu Thai Party has firmly denied accusations of undermining ethical standards for political figures as outlined in the constitution. They claim they aim to clarify what constitutes grounds for prosecuting those in public office.

 

Critics are raising alarms that the party’s push for a constitutional amendment to relax ethical conduct standards could pave the way for a power grab.

 

Pheu Thai Secretary-General Sorawong Thienthong spoke out yesterday, September 22, revealing that discussions are underway with coalition partners to explain the proposed changes to politicians’ ethical standards. He firmly rejected claims that these moves would limit the court’s ability to handle such cases.

 

“Our goal is to create a clearer framework around what defines an ethical breach by a politician.”

He added that amendments relating to ethics would be tackled article by article, rather than rewriting the whole constitution. However, he acknowledged that any changes will hinge on support from Thailand's Parliament.

 

“We need to discuss it with them [other parties] first.”

Prominent figures from the coalition’s Bhumjaithai, United Thai Nation (UTN), and Democrat parties have publicly opposed any changes to the ethics clauses. Critics have branded the proposed amendments as self-serving, warning that they could lead to the government’s downfall.

 

Serial petitioner Srisuwan Janya remarked that parties risk losing from the enforcement of current ethics laws, which explains their attempts to dilute them. He pointed out that several politicians are either facing prosecution or are at risk, suggesting that weakening these constitutional clauses presents a clear conflict of interest.

 

Srisuwan also warned that the amendment could diminish the National Anti-Corruption Commission’s power to indict political postholders.

 

Former red-shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan cautioned that the proposed changes would “loosen” restrictions on ethical standards and weaken the authority of the Constitutional Court, requiring two-thirds of nine judges instead of a simple majority to dismiss a cabinet minister on ethical grounds.

 

He warned that Pheu Thai’s manoeuvres might provoke a backlash and provide an excuse for the military to stage a coup, Bangkok Post reported.

 

by Bob Scott
Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

Source: The Thaiger 

-- 2024-09-23

 

[OneMoreFarang]

Imagine politicians must have a clean background. Including no family members with a checkered past.

How many of Thai politicians would be qualified? 

[lordgrinz]

You can't defend in the indefensible.

 

Quote

Pheu Thai Party defends ethics

 

[lordgrinz]

3 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Imagine politicians must have a clean background. Including no family members with a checkered past.

How many of Thai politicians would be qualified? 

 

Zero.

[Will B Good]

13 minutes ago, webfact said:

They claim they aim to clarify what constitutes grounds for prosecuting those in public office.

 

 

 

I assume drug running, rape and murder won't constitute grounds for prosecution......especially if carried out in another country.

 

 

 

[OneMoreFarang]

6 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

I assume drug running, rape and murder won't constitute grounds for prosecution......especially if carried out in another country.

 

Come on, you can't look at any minor little issue. 😉 

[Hunz Kittisak]

52 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Imagine politicians must have a clean background. Including no family members with a checkered past.

How many of Thai politicians would be qualified? 

Since when is  politics clean? 
It’s the same all over the world

[OneMoreFarang]

15 minutes ago, Hunz Kittisak said:

Since when is  politics clean? 
It’s the same all over the world

 

Maybe your "all over the world" is more limited than you think.

 

There are countries out there where political parties throw out the bad guys in their own party because they don't want that the public identifies a "good" party but one or a few bad people.

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Serial petitioner Srisuwan Janya remarked that parties risk losing from the enforcement of current ethics laws, which explains their attempts to dilute them. He pointed out that several politicians are either facing prosecution or are at risk, suggesting that weakening these constitutional clauses presents a clear conflict of interest.

Ohhh dear

[MarkBR]

Oxymoron - ethical politicians

[mfd101]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

requiring two-thirds of nine judges instead of a simple majority to dismiss a cabinet minister on ethical grounds.

I should have thought that would be a useful improvement.

 

Don't forget we have to deal here not just with corrupt politicians but also with ahem um corrupt judges.

[lordgrinz]

1 minute ago, mfd101 said:

Don't forget we have to deal here not just with corrupt politicians but also with ahem um corrupt judges.

 

Almost all of Thailand is corrupt, those who aren't collecting from it, wish they were. It's like a sickness here, it's embedded in their culture, good luck rooting it out, it will take a miracle. 

[spidermike007]

This a is akin to Al Capone defending his legitimate businesses. What ethics? 

[Presnock]

3 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Imagine politicians must have a clean background. Including no family members with a checkered past.

How many of Thai politicians would be qualified? 

That is the current problem for sure - if they disband this party, penalize those appointed to ministerial jobs, then all those too would be banned for many years before running or accepting any position in a new govt.  Pretty soon one could not find anyone to be named or elected as all would be banned.  

[RamblingOn]

3 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Imagine politicians must have a clean background. Including no family members with a checkered past.

How many of Thai politicians would be qualified? 

Some

[ikke1959]

Do they know what ethics are?? if so how can they pretend to defend them... The whole Shinawatra saga is surely  not ethical..

and how they deal with others.. But anyway as long as they use difficult words that the normal Thai make make confused and it sounds important they seem to be important and working for the benefit of the country 

[PETERTHEEATER]

5 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Imagine politicians must have a clean background. Including no family members with a checkered past.

How many of Thai politicians would be qualified? 

Both of them.

[watchcat]

4 hours ago, Hunz Kittisak said:

Since when is  politics clean? 
 

 

Since never

[kingstonkid]

Serial petitioner Srisuwan Janya is the main reason for this.  There has to be a method of looking at MPs and senators, but this guy is ridiculous.  If an MP farts, he submits a grievance.  

 

It is the same with LM.  

 

They need to have a screening system but there also must be a real means to monitor.