Democrat Party leader says no to direct election for PM

BANGKOK, 10 December 2014 (NNT)- The Democrat Party leader has voiced his opposition to the idea of electing a prime minister and the whole cabinet members directly, saying it would only lead to more conflicts.

Democrat Leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said he opposed to the idea presented by the political reform committee that the prime minister and cabinet members should be chosen directly. He claimed that this did not address the real underlying issue and it would only cause greater divides.

Mr. Abhisit said, however, that the proposal was only a suggestion and it would have to be deliberated by the National Reform Council before any conclusions reached.

The Democrat leader also said that there would be no need to bring amnesty to the table given the current circumstances; besides, who would be entitled to it are still unclear.

He also proposed that independent organizations be set up to probe political cases to prevent any third party intervention.


-- NNT 2014-12-10

C'mon Mark. Give the idea a chance...maybe you could win this time!

Direct election of the PM, who knows, might work. Unless the candidates for cabinet posts are screened for some type of expertise, it's a terrible idea. The country could end up with Yingluck as finance minister.

Given the dubious way he got to be prime minister me thinks he protests too much.

Given the dubious way he got to be prime minister me thinks he protests too much.

I'm not sure that forming a coalition to get elected PM is that "dubious".

And he's hardly "protesting".

Given the dubious way he got to be prime minister me thinks he protests too much.

I'm not sure that forming a coalition to get elected PM is that "dubious".

And he's hardly "protesting".

'offers they could not refuse', cobbled together in an army base.............what part is not dubious

Given the dubious way he got to be prime minister me thinks he protests too much.

I'm not sure that forming a coalition to get elected PM is that "dubious".

And he's hardly "protesting".

'offers they could not refuse', cobbled together in an army base.............what part is not dubious

Given the dubious way he got to be prime minister me thinks he protests too much.

I'm not sure that forming a coalition to get elected PM is that "dubious".

And he's hardly "protesting".

'offers they could not refuse', cobbled together in an army base.............what part is not dubious

Similar to "offers they could not refuse" while in Hong Kong.

with all due respect Sir, its the only way at the moment, any other way will ultimately lead to the same problems as in the past. we are starting to get direction now,

I support Abhisit (Mark) direct election is subject to abuse and you will get the same old faces putting up their hand and money changing hands faster than a jockey changing speedo's, the old Autocratic brigade will be in their glory and what's more this method certainly puts the average Thai out of the race for leadership ambitions , under the present system they haven't much of a chance , but at least they can try.

with all due respect Sir, its the only way at the moment, any other way will ultimately lead to the same problems as in the past. we are starting to get direction now,

The method of election didn't cause the problems. And really, how would the result be different? The 2011 election would have still most likely seen Yingluck directly elected as PM and PTP in government. How would it fix anything?

with all due respect Sir, its the only way at the moment, any other way will ultimately lead to the same problems as in the past. we are starting to get direction now,

The method of election didn't cause the problems. And really, how would the result be different? The 2011 election would have still most likely seen Yingluck directly elected as PM and PTP in government. How would it fix anything?

I'm wondering if perhaps the trick will be to do with who is eligible to run. There may be some companion rules that allow the establishment to ensure that only good people become candidates.

Pure speculation of course.

I think this is a misprint. How could the leader of the "Democrat Party" not support democratic elections?

I think this is a misprint. How could the leader of the "Democrat Party" not support democratic elections?

He doesn't. Despite his Oxford degree he is not democratic in the true meaning of the word.

Now theres a guarantee that the PT groupies will support it, anything he says must be wrong in their eyes.

The PM should not be but the cabinet (as I have posted elsewhere) should be elected from people qualified for the job.

That would avoid the farce we saw in the previous administration of 6 cabinet reshuffles and friends and relations given jobs they knew nothing about.

I think this is a misprint. How could the leader of the "Democrat Party" not support democratic elections?

There are different ways to have "democratic elections". He just doesn't support this way.

His remarks look to be completely self serving and serving the elites. They are just trying to marginalize the east and north voting blocks. Why doesn't the big sissy live in Isan or Chiang Rai for a year ?

Now theres a guarantee that the PT groupies will support it, anything he says must be wrong in their eyes.

The PM should not be but the cabinet (as I have posted elsewhere) should be elected from people qualified for the job.

That would avoid the farce we saw in the previous administration of 6 cabinet reshuffles and friends and relations given jobs they knew nothing about.

It will be a popularity contest. There will be no guarantee that the elected "cabinet minister" will know anything about what they're elected for.

Having elected MPs put in charge on ministries works in many other countries.

The problem is not that they don't know about the ministry that they're in charge of. The problem is the policies that have been chosen to be implemented by the party.

Who should define policy? The elected cabinet minister or the elected government?

His remarks look to be completely self serving and serving the elites. They are just trying to marginalize the east and north voting blocks. Why doesn't the big sissy live in Isan or Chiang Rai for a year ?

How is it self serving? He would actually have a reasonable chance of being elected PM if it was a direct election.

His remarks look to be completely self serving and serving the elites. They are just trying to marginalize the east and north voting blocks. Why doesn't the big sissy live in Isan or Chiang Rai for a year ?

How is it self serving? He would actually have a reasonable chance of being elected PM if it was a direct election.

not a hope... Thais will vote again for what they really want it will just take time and anti-democrat Abhisit will never be what Thais want (and has never won a single election)

His remarks look to be completely self serving and serving the elites. They are just trying to marginalize the east and north voting blocks. Why doesn't the big sissy live in Isan or Chiang Rai for a year ?

How is it self serving? He would actually have a reasonable chance of being elected PM if it was a direct election.

not a hope... Thais will vote again for what they really want it will just take time and anti-democrat Abhisit will never be what Thais want (and has never won a single election)

"and has never won a single election" He has won several elections for MP.

If Thais were voting for a directly elected PM, and not for the Democrat Party, I think he'd have a reasonable chance.

Thailand needs an incorruptible superhero as their next pm

Now theres a guarantee that the PT groupies will support it, anything he says must be wrong in their eyes.

The PM should not be but the cabinet (as I have posted elsewhere) should be elected from people qualified for the job.

That would avoid the farce we saw in the previous administration of 6 cabinet reshuffles and friends and relations given jobs they knew nothing about.

You mean similar to the current farce where most of the cabinet has been picked from army buddies with no qualifications for their portfolio?

Amazing how someone can criticize the previous government, but support the same actions done by the current government.

Oh no, not conflict.

If only there were some system for deciding who will be the representatives.
Like some way of counting what people actually wanted. Hmm.

It's a good thing there's never any conflict in any of those wacky nations that do use a democratic system.

I think this is a misprint. How could the leader of the "Democrat Party" not support democratic elections?

I got a smile from that one, Bill.

Having a directly elected PM will not always create a stable Govt. For example, imagine PTP have a majority in the lower house by number of seats. But in the subsequent PM election, a Democrat candidate won? Surely that would lead to a Government in constant conflict and therefore more elections?

Sorry double post...

@whybother, why is it that every time someone criticize the current administration you have to attack the previous one. It's not a rebuttal, it's a deflection which makes you, quite palpable, a hypocrite.

@whybother, why is it that every time someone criticize the current administration you have to attack the previous one. It's not a rebuttal, it's a deflection which makes you, quite palpable, a hypocrite.

Where have attacked, or even mentioned, the previous administration?

not a hope... Thais will vote again for what they really want it will just take time and anti-democrat Abhisit will never be what Thais want (and has never won a single election)

"and has never won a single election

" He has won several elections for MP.

If Thais were voting for a directly elected PM, and not for the Democrat Party, I think he'd have a reasonable chance.

Ah, so he couldn't win a single general election as the number one party List MP for the democrats, which obviously binjalin was referring to. But he stands a reasonable chance to win a PM election ?

By what logic would that be I wonder. I personally think that as long as the democrats continue to run with Abhisit as their leader, they will not win any general election.

Anyway, if Yingluck would be allowed to run in such a PM election, she would defeat Abhisit by a landslide.