Campaign Funding In Thailand Must Not Descend Into Money Politics

[webfact]

EDITORIAL

Campaign funding must not descend into money politics

By The Nation

Financial contributions to political parties may be seen as a reflection of public expectation, but we should be cautious about any rise in standards

The latest figures for financial contributions to political parties shows that the Democrats are ahead of their rivals. The country's oldest party has received a higher amount of public donations in addition to hefty contributions from big business families.

The figures for financial contribution reflect perhaps greater public support for political parties, which could be seen as a positive sign and an essential element in the growth of our democracy.

There may be many reasons why members of the public seem to be throwing their support behind the 65-year-old Democrats. Some may choose to donate to the Democrats because they share the party's "ideology"; some may want to support the incumbent party because they prefer the continuity of policy implementations or just the current status quo.

The disclosure of financial contributions more or less reveals the actual level of popularity for the political parties, and the Democrats in particular. But at the same time it reflects a burden for the Democrats that the party has to honour its obligations and commitment to voters and to serve them well in their local constituencies, not just in Parliament.

The party's current "ideology" may have been drawing more public support. American Democrats are more liberal compared to their Republican rivals, who tend to be more conservative, despite the fact that party lines have been blurred lately due to political pressure and changing economic and social circumstances. The same can be said of Thailand. Lately, some Democrat supporters in Thailand have also questioned their party's policy now that the Abhisit government has followed the populist policies that were was championed by the ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party. The Democrats impressed many voters when they were the opposition party, and voters were drawn to their rhetoric about fighting corruption and mismanagement. But if the party continues to fail to address that issue, the public may lose trust and the current high levels of contributions may dry up.

But it is not only the Democrats who have benefited financially. The opposition Pheu Thai and Bhumjai Thai parties have also received satisfactory amounts of funding. This too is a good sign, as it reflects a degree of public trust in the political opposition, which is vital in any democracy.

The list of major financial contributors to Democrats is not a surprise. The business community has been at the fore, as it wants a stable political environment to enable commerce to operate smoothly. The party has also received a substantial amount in donations from families who plan to nominate their relatives as campaigners under the Democrat banner during the upcoming election. This is also the case for the other political parties, as evidenced by the number of political dynasties in this country.

Political contributions from the business sector are generally seen as acceptable, and are a fact of political life in many democratic countries, especially the US. But political parties need to make sure that they act for the public interest without letting monetary pressure give vested interests a louder voice than ordinary voters.

We should never forget the importance of public oversight in ensuring that the decision-making process is transparent. Politicians must not be permitted to leave ethical questions over connections between money and their decision making. Decisions to award government contracts to certain companies must be explainable. If they are not, the public will be rightly suspicious about contracts being given to certain companies because the government wants to return the favour of donations that companies contribute to political campaigns.

It's a far-fetched idea in this country, but politicians must demonstrate to the public that financial contributions do not influence their decisions. The ruling party has an obligation to serve the entire population, including its opponents, not just those who provide it with financial support.

Unfortunately, some donors prefer to have their donations kept secret from the public - for fear of possible reprisal if a rival party rises to power. This should not be the case in a democratic society where different views are valid and decision-making is judged on merit instead of the power of money.

-- The Nation 2011-03-31