Still no CDC agreement on whether Thai PM should be elected MP

[webfact]

Still no CDC agreement on whether PM should be elected MP
NITIPOL KIRAVANICH
THE NATION

Charter drafters yesterday failed to resolve whether the prime minister should be an elected member of Parliament.

BANGKOK: -- Several Constitution Drafting Committee members discussed the topic and it was expected that the CDC would come up with an answer at today's meeting.

CDC member Paiboon Nititawan's view was that no electoral system should prevent people with the qualifications to serve as prime minister from doing so because they had not been elected as MPs.

"My personal view is that the position should not be limited [to only MPs] because the prime minister should represent the people, and there are many who have such qualifications," he said.

Paiboon, who is also a member of the National Reform Council (NRC), said he believed that the people were capable of choosing who was eligible to head their government.

However, he had no problem with MPs proposing and electing a prime minister if the CDC agreed.

"This new constitution should not limit a PM's qualifications, as seen in previous cases," he said.

The CDC on Tuesday agreed that the House of Representatives would be authorised to choose the country's prime minister, but did not seem clear on whether the PM would be an elected member of the lower house.

The charter drafters reasoned that direct election would cause more problems to the country, adding further risks to the Thai political system.

The proposal of direct election of the prime minister and Cabinet members was brought up by the chairman of the NRC's political-reform panel, Sombat Thamrongthanyawong. He said such a system could result in "better democracy".

Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, National Legislative Assembly (NLA) president, also proposed the PM's direct election to the CDC. He said that airing contrasting ideas among relevant agencies showed that no one could dictate the direction of drafting a constitution.

He claimed that even if the country sticks to its old election system, it would have to adjust and strengthen the legislative system to eradicate issues that obstruct democracy and ensure that members of Parliament actually represent their people.

Pornpetch also believed that the fact that Sombat had made the direct-election proposal would not cause issues between the two agencies, adding that it was good to have contrasting opinions.

"We have to accept the CDC's scrutiny, including public opinion on the charter," Pornpetch said.

Therefore the overriding question is how the PM and MPs represented the people, including the electoral system, which they must serve lawfully, he said.

He also said that even though the direct-election proposal had been scrapped, the CDC still needed to listen to other ideas, because once the charter was drafted it would need final approval by the NRC.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Still-no-CDC-agreement-on-whether-PM-should-be-ele-30250620.html


-- The Nation 2014-12-25

[whybother]

My crystal ball says that they will decide that the PM has to be an MP.

[Tatsujin]

My crystal ball says that they will decide that the PM has to be an MP.

And my lucky dog whispered to me that it will be that it doesn't have to be an MP and that anyone can be "elected" if they have the right qualifications (i.e., large campaign "contributions").

I also look forward to the day when Pimthong Washirakom leads all of Thailand into a brave new era ... oh, and Merry Xmas one and all!

[kriswillems]

My impression is that they are discussing longer about the next constitution than it will last.

[rhythmworx]

So what?

[webfact]

NEW CONSTITUTION
Prime minister could be non-MP : CDC

BANGKOK: -- The prime minister will not be required to be a House representative in the new charter. Khamnoon Sitthisaman, spokesman of the Constitution Drafting Committee said Thursday.

The premier does not have to be member of any political party, Khamnoon said. Members of Parliament will nominate the candidate and the Parliament president will then seek royal approval.

Khamnoon said the CDC is planning for the next Senate to have 200 members and the authority to check the backgrounds of ministerial nominees.

The panel reached a consensus that 200 senators would be indirectly elected from five groups.

The groups are: former members of the executive, the judiciary and the legislature; former key government officials like former armed forces chiefs and former permanent secretaries; chairpersons of legalised professional organisations such as the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Thai Industries; people's organisations; and various professional organisations.

Khamnoon said that senators would retain their authority to propose laws and remove the prime minister, ministers, House representatives, Senators and heads of government offices but such removal would require a majority vote of the House and the Senate.

Drafters plan to authorise senators to examine the profiles of minister nominees before the prime minister submits the list for royal approval.

Senators will also be empowered to check and publicise the moral profiles of heads of government organisations. The drafters have not concluded the senators' terms of office.

Khamnoon added that under the new charter draft House representatives would nominate the prime minister and the House speaker would submit the name to His Majesty the King for approval.

On Wednesday, the CDC resolved that a total of 450 MPs will be elected under the new charter, with 250 of them drawn from constituencies and 200 others coming from the partylist system, according to its spokesman Gen Lertrat Ratanavanich.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Prime-minister-could-be-non-MP-CDC-30250646.html


-- The Nation 2014-12-25

[whybother]

The panel reached a consensus that 200 senators would be indirectly elected from five groups.

Hmmm ... this is going to be fun.

[Orac]

The panel reached a consensus that 200 senators would be indirectly elected from five groups.

Hmmm ... this is going to be fun.

By "indirectly elected" i assume they mean "appointed".

Edited December 25, 2014 by Orac

[webfact]

Kamnoon: the new Senate will be more powerful and the prime minister needs not be an MP



BANGKOK: -- The Constitution Drafting Committee has resolved to limit the number of the next senators at 200 but the senators will have the additional powers to check the backgrounds of people who are to be appointed into the cabinet.

CDC spokesman Kamnoon Sitthisamarn said today that the new senators would be selected from five sources: former prime ministers and former House speakers; former senior officials such as former commanders of the three armed forces and former permanent secretaries; former presidents of professional organizations such as presidents of the Board of Trade and Federation of Thai Industries; people’s sector such as labour unions and civic organizations; and professional groups.

Mr Kamnoon said that the new Senate will retain the powers to propose bills to the parliament but they will be bestowed with more powers to check the backgrounds of those who are to be appointed cabinet ministers and all department heads.

Also, the Senate is empowered to impeach the prime minister, cabinet ministers, parliamentarians and senior government officials but the impeachment must require one-half of the votes of the two Houses.

As for the prime minister, he said the CDC prefers the prime minister to be nominated by MPs and the House speaker will have to seek royal approval for the nominee and the prime minister needs not be an MP.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/kamnoon-new-senate-will-powerful-prime-minister-needs-not-mp


-- Thai PBS 2014-12-25