Thai Democrats To Try U S-Style 'caucus' System In Ayutthaya

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POLITICS
Democrats to try US-style 'caucus' system in Ayutthaya
Prapasri Osathanon
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- In a pilot project, the Democrat Party will allow ordinary members in Ayutthaya to nominate a short list of election candidates for the next general election, deputy party leader Alongkorn Pollabutr said yesterday.

The new candidate system was part of a reform plan designed to give members a sense of ownership of the Democrat Party, he said.

Alongkorn, who oversees the Central provinces, said the new system would be modelled on the primary and caucus systems used in the United States. He was speaking to reporters after a meeting of the Democrats' candidate-selection committee, which is chaired by Banyat Bantadtan.

The meeting resolved to introduce the primary and caucus system for selection of Democrat candidates in all regions, with a pilot project being launched in Ayutthaya.

"This is an innovation in Thai politics," Alongkorn said.

He said Ayutthaya was chosen to host the pilot project because of its large economy and the fact that the Democrats have never won a House seat in the province.

The first caucus of rank-and-file Democrat members will be held at the Woraburi Ayothaya Convention Resort on May 4, Alongkorn said. About 200 party members and observers would join the caucus, he said. They will be allowed to nominate the persons they want to contest the next election under the Democrat banner. Nominated persons will be allowed to air their political visions, after which the attending members would hold a vote.

A list of the top nominees will be sent to the Central region committee, which will further shorten the list for Banyat's panel, which will choose a final candidate for the party executive board to endorse.

Alongkorn said this method would allow the party to pick qualified candidates, while giving the public a chance to participate in the party's affairs.

A group of MPs who favour reform held a meeting on Wednesday and proposed ideas for improving the party's structure, Alongkorn said. Democrat chief adviser Chuan Leekpai supported the reform idea but disagreed with Alongkorn's posting messages about reform proposals on Twitter, the latter said.

Nakhon Machim, a Phitsanulok MP, said that about 20 reform-minded MPs from all regions attended the meeting.

The meeting agreed to set up a panel of academics from various universities in 30 days to offer advice on how to improve the party's structure.

After the party completes its reform blueprint, Alongkorn will propose it to the party's advisory committee for submission to the party's assembly, Nakhon said.


-- The Nation 2013-04-26

[smutcakes]

I don't think it will make any meaningful difference, but nice to see them thinking outside the box.

[noitom]

A Thai caucus is nothing new. That's what Thais always do when you ask them a question. They consult, they confer, they discuss among themselves, and then they give you some convoluted response that has nothing to do with the question. That's an everyday Thai caucus.

[Locationthailand]

Hey - it's a start... go for it.

[rotary]

Following anything the US does in politics must be wrong in my opinion. Look at what a mess us politics is, worse than Thailands.

[Thaddeus]

The first caucus of rank-and-file Democrat members will be held at the Woraburi Ayothaya Convention Resort on May 4, Alongkorn said.

Star Wars Day.

May the 4th be with you.

[chainarong]

The problem I have with this , the rank and file still have no choice in the candidate selection, you are given a list, this is the crux of all Thailand's problems , the back room deals, as some said, it's a start, but Christ they've got along way to go , the next move ,axe the requirement that you have to have a degree to be a member of parliament

[whybother]

The problem I have with this , the rank and file still have no choice in the candidate selection, you are given a list, this is the crux of all Thailand's problems , the back room deals, as some said, it's a start, but Christ they've got along way to go , the next move ,axe the requirement that you have to have a degree to be a member of parliament

You don't need a degree to be a member of parliament. That was one of the changes in the terrible coupist 2007 constitution, which apparently the red shirts want to get rid of.

[Evolare]

Copying electoral structure from the worst electoral system in the western hemisphere is not a good idea. Try looking at electoral structures of the scandinavian countries instead which are far more effective and are to its core democratic...where as the us caucus system is far from it...

Just see how they abused the system to outmaneuver dr. Ron Paul

[xkmasada]

"About 200 party members and observers would join the caucus, he said. They will be allowed to nominate the persons they want to contest the next election under the Democrat banner. Nominated persons will be allowed to air their political visions, after which the attending members would hold a vote.

A list of the top nominees will be sent to the Central region committee, which will further shorten the list for Banyat's panel, which will choose a final candidate for the party executive board to endorse."

So basically Banyat still has the final say, despite the local party vote? So what nominee in his right mind would bribe the local party members? They'll just bribe Banyat.

[CPT]

'US style caucus system' is a bit misleading as there is no noationwide caucus system. In fact, caucuses are illegal in state I am from which allows only open primaries. I understand that it is confusing for those not from the US but please remember, the US is compsed of 50 states with unique laws and systems of governance and each makes it's own decisions regarding the methods for selecting candidates (sometimes this varies amongst parties in the same state).

[CPT]

Copying electoral structure from the worst electoral system in the western hemisphere is not a good idea. Try looking at electoral structures of the scandinavian countries instead which are far more effective and are to its core democratic...where as the us caucus system is far from it...

Just see how they abused the system to outmaneuver dr. Ron Paul

Ron Paul actually outmanuevered the caucus and primary systems more often than not. You may be thinking of the Republican National Convention which is a presidential nominating convention and has little to do with the nomination of candidates for legislative positions.

And which electoral system out of 50 are you claiming to be the worst in the Western hemisphere?

Edited April 26, 2013 by CPT

[khunken]

Can't really say whether this is good or bad but as long as it doesn't allow lobby groups to dictate how a candidate votes it looks like worth a try.

The other potential problem is will the red shirts allow it?

[Evolare]

Yeah maybe I mixed it up, however the US electoral system as a whole is a busted up system...the fact you dont use popular votes in the USA for presidential election is f:ed. Then the fact that Ron Paul did qualify as a candidate in the republican national convention so they changed the rules to make sure he didnt qualify is called corupption and illegal. Honestly when it comes to USA policitics, policies and public services I could talk all day. People say thai politicians are corrupt and they are but who do you think they learned from who wrote the book? The US politicians are just better at hiding it...

Then again we have corrupt politicians in scandinavia also no doubt.