Direct Election Of Thai PM Is Better: P-Net

[webfact]

Direct election of PM is better: P-Net

The Nation

The People's Network for Free Elections in Thailand (P-NET) unveiled a six-point proposal yesterday that includes a call for direct election of the prime minister to ensure the country has a strong and efficient leader.

P-NET chairman Saiyud Kerdphol spoke about the six-point proposal after a seminar on ways to improve the electoral system and civilians' role in it. The event was organised with the Anfrel Foundation.

Saiyud said the Pheu Thai-led government based its claim that it was empowered to act in ways that benefit one person on the fact that 15 million people voted for it. He also accused the government of neglecting to honour its election-campaign promises. The country's electoral system did not deliver true democracy or a strong and highly moral national leader, he said.

"The country will be able to tackle its problems if it has a strong leader who is fiercely honest and sacrifices personal and vested interests or those of families for the benefit of the people,'' he said.

Under the system proposed by P-NET, a candidate for prime minister would need to win more than half of the total votes, and no party dissolution would occur when party executive boards commit electoral offences.

Other changes discussed at the seminar included allowing independent constituency MPs who are not under the banner of a political party; allowing voters to choose party-list MPs according to their own listings; allowing monks and nuns to vote; reforming the Provincial Election Commission by recruiting people from all walks of life; and promoting public participation in the monitoring of election procedures to ensure clean and fair elections.

The panel also proposed that election courts be set up to improve the efficiency of the Election Commis-sion, which has had problems in the past dealing with a flood of electoral complaints.

-- The Nation 2011-12-19

[hellodolly]

"The country will be able to tackle its problems if it has a strong leader who is fiercely honest and sacrifices personal and vested interests or those of families for the benefit of the people,''

They had one and the opposition staged a terrorist attack against him. They even sank so low as to invade a hospital.

[whybother]

The direct election of the PM will not guarantee a strong and moral leader. I doubt that a strong and moral leader would have much chance of being elected in Thailand under any system.

[Ricardo]

I think it would be very hard, if not impossible, for any one politician to get more-than 50% of the vote, as Thai elections currently seem unable to deliver this even for a party-platform ? (but I accept that PTP came close, with 48.4%).

And what if some outstanding person were found and elected, would they be able to command a majority of MPs' votes in Parliament, wouldn't there be a risk of a good PM being unable to gather enough support to actually pass laws ?

Perhaps the existing method is better, since any PM can generally command sufficient support from his own party, or a coalition of parties, and the party can (as with former-PM Samak) change leaders if they really wish to ?

I also fail to see, how can making party-leadership not responsible for party-malfeasance, can help increase democracy or reduce political-corruption, it's a useful check-and-balance in the system and should therefore be retained.

[givenall]

"The country will be able to tackle its problems if it has a strong leader who is fiercely honest and sacrifices personal and vested interests or those of families for the benefit of the people,''

They had one and the opposition staged a terrorist attack against him. They even sank so low as to invade a hospital.

How about some IQ test about intelligent, public service,independence and corruption resistance

But again this Thailand, almos every student cheats and get passing grade

[Bakseedaa]

"The country will be able to tackle its problems if it has a strong leader who is fiercely honest and sacrifices personal and vested interests or those of families for the benefit of the people,''

They had one and the opposition staged a terrorist attack against him. They even sank so low as to invade a hospital.

How about some IQ test about intelligent, public service,independence and corruption resistance

But again this Thailand, almos every student cheats and get passing grade

Yes agreed.... telling lies seems to be the "norm" in Thailand.... These peoples just do not know the word DIGNITY...... everything about moneys...!!

[TAWP]

A direct election of an PM would change it from a PM to a President. You see where this change infact leads us?

And a President (or 'direct elected PM') would be useless unless he was given executive power.

Where do these people come up with these ideas? They don't think them through?

Or they did and (P-NET) is aligned with some players and don't have the public's best interest at mind?

[DP25]

Turnout would likely be high for a PM election and as long as there was no boycott no one would be able to get 50%.

I'm not sure how this proposal would work when no one got 50%. Run off election? Preferential voting? Run off elections might not turn out the way that they hope, with 3rd and 4th place candidates selling their supporters to the 1st and 2nd place candidates.

The problem of the candidate not being the choice of a majority extends far beyond the PM and in to MPs as well. Many MPs are elected with only 30-40% of the vote. I'd suggest starting there, but I don't see it happening. Too many vested interests rely on getting their seats with a minority vote.

[gamini]

"The country will be able to tackle its problems if it has a strong leader who is fiercely honest and sacrifices personal and vested interests or those of families for the benefit of the people,''

They had one and the opposition staged a terrorist attack against him. They even sank so low as to invade a hospital.

Very true. VA was one of the the most capable and honest PM's. Bought down by you know whom.

[Skywalker69]

"The country will be able to tackle its problems if it has a strong leader who is fiercely honest and sacrifices personal and vested interests or those of families for the benefit of the people,''

They had one and the opposition staged a terrorist attack against him. They even sank so low as to invade a hospital.

Spot on!

[Skywalker69]

"The country will be able to tackle its problems if it has a strong leader who is fiercely honest and sacrifices personal and vested interests or those of families for the benefit of the people,''

They had one and the opposition staged a terrorist attack against him. They even sank so low as to invade a hospital.

How about some IQ test about intelligent, public service,independence and corruption resistance

But again this Thailand, almos every student cheats and get passing grade

It would be interesting to se the result of a Yingluck IQ test.

[Oberkommando]

"The country will be able to tackle its problems if it has a strong leader who is fiercely honest and sacrifices personal and vested interests or those of families for the benefit of the people,''

They had one and the opposition staged a terrorist attack against him. They even sank so low as to invade a hospital.

Thailand has never had one.

[h90]

"The country will be able to tackle its problems if it has a strong leader who is fiercely honest and sacrifices personal and vested interests or those of families for the benefit of the people,''

They had one and the opposition staged a terrorist attack against him. They even sank so low as to invade a hospital.

no, they don't need that...easier to pay the people 300 Baht to vote for the right leader :-)

[phiphidon]

"The country will be able to tackle its problems if it has a strong leader who is fiercely honest and sacrifices personal and vested interests or those of families for the benefit of the people,''

They had one and the opposition staged a terrorist attack against him. They even sank so low as to invade a hospital.

Very true. VA was one of the the most capable and honest PM's. Bought down by you know whom.

He was brought down because he didn't get enough people to vote for his party to form a government, that's how it works in a real election. It's as simple as that.

[Thai at Heart]

Isn't "direct election of Prime Minister", another way of saying "president"?

[anterian]

"The country will be able to tackle its problems if it has a strong leader who is fiercely honest and sacrifices personal and vested interests or those of families for the benefit of the people,''

They had one and the opposition staged a terrorist attack against him. They even sank so low as to invade a hospital.

Surely you don't mean Abhisit? Amazing how credulous some people can be