And so the exodus of quality expats begins. This time it's personal

[webfact]

Senators' powers to be restrained in March transition
Khanittha Thepphajorn
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Appointed senators will be prohibited from removing or appointing individuals during the transition period at the end of the elected senators' term next March.

The parliamentary ad-hoc committee considering Constitution amendment Wednesday discussed laws related to the sources and mandate of senators.

According to the new draft, an election must be held to replace any vacant senatorial seat within 45 days. Meanwhile, provision will allow the current senators, who gained the seats before the charter amendment, to stay until the end of their terms.

However, when the elected senators are at the end of their term on March 2, it will take some time before new senators are elected. There will be only 75 appointed senators in position and they would not be allowed to join in any impeachment or appointment process.

"The transition period might be short, but if there was a protest calling for impeachment against Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra proposed to the Senate, the (remaining) senators might consider removing her," Pheu Thai MP Sunai Julpongsatorn said.

The majority of the ad hoc committee earlier agreed that a total of 200 senators should be created from the election. And unlike the current law, family members of political office holders are allowed to run in the election.


-- The Nation 2013-05-22

[Robby nz]

The majority of the ad hoc committee earlier agreed that a total of 200 senators should be created from the election. And unlike the current law, family members of political office holders are allowed to run in the election.

Has the Shin family still got 200 family members left to fill the senate?

[waza]

A bit confusing, how many appointed senator will there be after the change is implemented?

[seajae]

sounds like a pitch to get all of thaksins family members into the govt, god helps

[chainarong]

The majority of the ad hoc committee earlier agreed that a total of 200 senators should be created from the election. And unlike the current law, family members of political office holders are allowed to run in the election.

Has the Shin family still got 200 family members left to fill the senate?

Well nearly, I am seriously thinking of joining, to make up the numbers, it's the only way I know , to jump on that gravy train at platform 13.

[bigbamboo]

Wouldn't it be simpler to cut out all this political wrangling and let the country's leader (or at least his ghost writer, Bobby Amsterdam) draft a new constitution and then let the people vote in a referendum on it ... like the Democrats did with the current constitution.

If BB wins he can return with impunity. If he loses he can remain in his desert bunker with his sand iron.

At least then there would no more futile squabbling and everyone could just get on with real life.

Edited May 22, 2013 by bigbamboo

[rubl]

Transition?

BTW as for process, elected and appointed, number of senators, that's written in the Constitution and as far as I know only the move from 76 elected/74 appointed to 100% elected has been discussed and is in (various) proposals to amendment of the Constitution. I hadn't seen anything else related to senators yet

[Thai at Heart]

How did this rule just pop into existence?

[Mampara]

The majority of the ad hoc committee earlier agreed that a total of 200 senators should be created from the election. And unlike the current law, family members of political office holders are allowed to run in the election.

Has the Shin family still got 200 family members left to fill the senate?

What a childish and irresponsible remark to make.

[Mampara]

How did this rule just pop into existence?

The answer my friend, is blowing in the wind.

[Thai at Heart]

How did this rule just pop into existence?

The answer my friend, is blowing in the wind.

Is it on the constitution?

[whybother]

Wouldn't it be simpler to cut out all this political wrangling and let the country's leader (or at least his ghost writer, Bobby Amsterdam) draft a new constitution and then let the people vote in a referendum on it ... like the Democrats did with the current constitution.

If BB wins he can return with impunity. If he loses he can remain in his desert bunker with his sand iron.

At least then there would no more futile squabbling and everyone could just get on with real life.

What did the Democrats have to do with drafting or the referendum for the 2007 constitution?

[espinoza]

Appointed senators ??? This is NOT a democracy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rubl]

Appointed Senators, not a democracy

Probably this is just to remind people here that the main reason the Thai welcomed the British PM is that in Britain the Senate (i.e. House of Lords) has hereditary peers which is of course even better than appointed members.

[yoshiwara]

Wouldn't it be simpler to cut out all this political wrangling and let the country's leader (or at least his ghost writer, Bobby Amsterdam) draft a new constitution and then let the people vote in a referendum on it ... like the Democrats did with the current constitution.

If BB wins he can return with impunity. If he loses he can remain in his desert bunker with his sand iron.

At least then there would no more futile squabbling and everyone could just get on with real life.

Good luck with drafting a constitution excusing common criminal acts of money laundering.

[bigbamboo]

Wouldn't it be simpler to cut out all this political wrangling and let the country's leader (or at least his ghost writer, Bobby Amsterdam) draft a new constitution and then let the people vote in a referendum on it ... like the Democrats did with the current constitution.

If BB wins he can return with impunity. If he loses he can remain in his desert bunker with his sand iron.

At least then there would no more futile squabbling and everyone could just get on with real life.

What did the Democrats have to do with drafting or the referendum for the 2007 constitution?

OK... the referendum that was held during the Dem backed military control.

[whybother]

Wouldn't it be simpler to cut out all this political wrangling and let the country's leader (or at least his ghost writer, Bobby Amsterdam) draft a new constitution and then let the people vote in a referendum on it ... like the Democrats did with the current constitution.

If BB wins he can return with impunity. If he loses he can remain in his desert bunker with his sand iron.

At least then there would no more futile squabbling and everyone could just get on with real life.

What did the Democrats have to do with drafting or the referendum for the 2007 constitution?

OK... the referendum that was held during the Dem backed military control.

I don't think the Dems actually "backed" it, either.

[Baerboxer]

The majority of the ad hoc committee earlier agreed that a total of 200 senators should be created from the election. And unlike the current law, family members of political office holders are allowed to run in the election.

Has the Shin family still got 200 family members left to fill the senate?

What a childish and irresponsible remark to make.

Why? What makes this seem childiish or irresponsible to you? The "family" have been putting family members into key posts since coming into office. Why wouldn't they do the same here given the chance? Nepotism and cronyism are there norm.

[Baerboxer]

How did this rule just pop into existence?

The answer my friend, is blowing in the wind.

And you don't consider this an irresponsible or childish remark like you say of another post ? Perhaps more an attempt at humour or being a "smart arse" ?

Ah, the diversity of comment and opinion makes it all so interesting,

[SOTIRIOS]

The majority of the ad hoc committee earlier agreed that a total of 200 senators should be created from the election. And unlike the current law, family members of political office holders are allowed to run in the election.

Has the Shin family still got 200 family members left to fill the senate?

..surely if they got enough people to elect them.....they could find 200 more....

[drdoom6996]

What, no more killing their ex-wifes in a restaurant with a gun that was not supposed to be loaded? It was just a mistake.

[bigbamboo]

Wouldn't it be simpler to cut out all this political wrangling and let the country's leader (or at least his ghost writer, Bobby Amsterdam) draft a new constitution and then let the people vote in a referendum on it ... like the Democrats did with the current constitution.

If BB wins he can return with impunity. If he loses he can remain in his desert bunker with his sand iron.

At least then there would no more futile squabbling and everyone could just get on with real life.

What did the Democrats have to do with drafting or the referendum for the 2007 constitution?

OK... the referendum that was held during the Dem backed military control.

I don't think the Dems actually "backed" it, either.

No?

[khunken]

And unlike the current law, family members of political office holders are allowed to run in the election

What they want to do is go back to the 1997 constitution which allowed & resulted in various family members, mia nois, & party hacks being elected to the Senate. It's a waste of time having a senate when it is just designed to be an extension of the lower house. Unfortunately power is PTPs aim - not democracy nor any opposition & not even independence.

[whybother]

OK... the referendum that was held during the Dem backed military control.

I don't think the Dems actually "backed" it, either.

No?

.

No.

[bigbamboo]

OK... the referendum that was held during the Dem backed military control.

I don't think the Dems actually "backed" it, either.

No?

.

No.

OK, at least we can agree to differ on that.

[jbrain]

How did this rule just pop into existence?

The answer my friend, is blowing in the wind.

Is it on the constitution?

Not yet, they are just going a bit ahead of the constitution in the make.

[Thai at Heart]

How did this rule just pop into existence?

The answer my friend, is blowing in the wind.

Is it on the constitution?

Not yet, they are just going a bit ahead of the constitution in the make.

Huh?