The plan for an outsider PM is risky: Abhisit

[webfact]

CHARTER WRITING
The plan for an outsider PM is risky: Abhisit
THE NATION

Ex-MP Nipit warns radical proposals could ruin charter

BANGKOK: -- Democrat Party leader and former PM Abhisit Vejjajiva says the charter drafters' proposal to allow the appointment of an "outsider" PM should not be included in the new constitution - because it is "dangerous" in normal circumstances.

The former premier commented yesterday on various proposals put forward by charter drafters, especially the one on an "outsider" PM, which would abolish the requirement that candidates to be prime minister must be an elected representative of Parliament.

However, he said the proposal may be acceptable in a crisis but believed such an outcome could be achieved without being written in the new constitution.

The practical aspect of an "outsider" PM was questionable, Abhisit said, noting it would require approval from three-quarters of Parliament, and he thought outside candidates were unlikely to get such huge support.

The former premier also expressed concern about other proposals by the charter drafters, such as their apparently negative view of political parties - and seeing strong parties as a threat to the country's democracy.

Pointing to their proposal to scrap the requirement that representative candidates do not have to be members of political parties, he said this meant that once they get elected, they do not have to be responsible to their promises made to the public during the election campaign under the party's name, and instead they can act with absolute freedom.

Abhisit argued that the aim of charter drafters in political reforms should not be to weaken political parties, but rather create political parties with a strong organisational structure that do not belong to financiers or specific groups of people.

Peerasak Porchit, vice president of the National Legislative Assembly, came out to calm public speculation that the proposal to leave the door open for an "outsider" PM would provide the junta with a future opportunity to hold its grip on power after the new constitution is implemented.

He said he was convinced that there was no member of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) who wanted to continue in politics after the new charter came into effect, and the proposal on "outsider" PM was only intended to be used in a crisis.

On the CDC's proposal to empower all appointed senators by giving them the power to scrutinise the qualifications and profiles of ministerial candidates and propose bills, he said he personally preferred there were both elected and appointed senators to reflect people's representation in the Senate as written in the 2007 constitution.

Peerasak said that he and many other NLA members agreed that there should be a referendum on the charter. However, it is the responsibility of the charter drafters to propose to the NCPO and the government to hold a referendum.

Former Democrat MP, Nipit Intarasombat criticised some of the political reform proposals of the CDC as too radical, saying he was worried they would create future problems rather than solve them.

Nipit predicted that because some reform proposals were highly controversial, the charter would not be supported in a public referendum. However, if the NCPO decided not to hold a referendum, there will be more problems.

The former MP suggested that the focus of the junta should be to solve the key problems in society rather than changing the entire system, which was unnecessary.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/The-plan-for-an-outsider-PM-is-risky-Abhisit-30250870.html


-- The Nation 2014-12-29

[chainarong]

An outsider being appointed P.M. is not only risky it encourages habits like buying the position and what happens if the outsider P.M. is not of the same political opinion as the majority in the house of reps (Trouble) also you need to wonder what ever happened to democracy reform and the people having a say in the election process , there was nothing wrong with the former process where the leader of the winning party automaticly became P.M, .at least the people had some say in that selection, why change something that's not broken. Verdict: I smell a Rat

[greenchair]

Surprise surprise. Perhaps the yellow might realise this was never their fight. They were simply a very well played tool. It might just turn out that both parties have lost. It is starting to look like,yes there will be elections of a sort. But the elected party may have no real power. If the appointed senate don't like the pm ideas they can vote them out or in on a whim. In 5 or 10 years All parties eventually would join together to fight this system the cdc has dreamed up. Bringing reconciliation and unity to all thai. In a strange way goal achieved ☺

[DoctorG]

Any system that has reps appointed (by whom?) instead of fully elected could never call itself a democracy.

[timewilltell]

The biggest problem facing Thailand is not that there are powerful political parties but that the whole system of corruption carries on through every department and public service at every conceivable level and every type from criminal corruption, to financial corruption through banks to police officers, through Justice and the legal profession ( and I use the word profession in the loosest possible way because there does not seem to be any understanding of the meaning of the word here). None of this is even beginning to be tackled unless there is some political overriding reason for it rather than the reason simply to tackle all of it.

The junta although highlighting the issue has made little headway. If there are systems for Rapid investigation and prosecution of corruption with stiff sentences and no escape routes, then the likes of Political traitorous behaviour will cease and slowly a new more honest mindset prevail. It is only a change in mindset with greater social and personal responsibility that will produce politicians who really want to improve the lot of the country instead of themselves. A non-elected PM is not going to help really

[binjalin]

They will weaken parliament and appoint whoever they wish (this will be the threat) and so the 'old guard ammart' clings onto power and even un-democratic Abhisit can see this

[watcharacters]

The biggest problem facing Thailand is not that there are powerful political parties but that the whole system of corruption carries on through every department and public service at every conceivable level and every type from criminal corruption, to financial corruption through banks to police officers, through Justice and the legal profession ( and I use the word profession in the loosest possible way because there does not seem to be any understanding of the meaning of the word here). None of this is even beginning to be tackled unless there is some political overriding reason for it rather than the reason simply to tackle all of it.

The junta although highlighting the issue has made little headway. If there are systems for Rapid investigation and prosecution of corruption with stiff sentences and no escape routes, then the likes of Political traitorous behaviour will cease and slowly a new more honest mindset prevail. It is only a change in mindset with greater social and personal responsibility that will produce politicians who really want to improve the lot of the country instead of themselves. A non-elected PM is not going to help really

.

Your post does highlight a serious existing problem.

[ggold]

cash was loved and became a god to the godless.

Of course Geordie was never elected by the people so his rejection of other dictators seems ironic

Or the fact that there is an outsider PM at this moment is even more ironic!

The plan is called dictatorship

[rickirs]

"there was no member of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) who wanted to continue in politics after the new charter came into effect, and the proposal on "outsider" PM was only intended to be used in a crisis."

The military lied about being politically nuetral, led about not desiring a coup. A flag officer and chief of the NCPO is now the unelected PM as Head of Government. The NCPO holds absolute power and has indicated it shall retain it for up to five years. Rather than putting blind trust in the military that has led 13 coups, the CDC should put trust in the Thai people. Placing a provision in the Constitution that allows a legal means by which the military can remove the elected PM under the pretext of "national security" or "martial law" and replace with one of its own as PM is directly against democratic governance.

The MMP system has worked flawlessly for Germany and now New Zealand for the election of a PM. The CDC should not bastardize it for the sake of some democratic "Thainess." I agree with Abhisit that political parties should be nutured and encouraged as the best means to represent the largest part of the electrorate. He recognizes that THERE IS POLITICAL ACCOUNTABILITY of elected officials. Where is the accountability of an unelected PM such as General Prayuth?

The CDC must move with the MMP system or admit that the military mandates the unelected PM provision. Thailand has had enough dishonesty in its governance. CDC should not allow it into the Constitution.

[ggold]

"there was no member of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) who wanted to continue in politics after the new charter came into effect, and the proposal on "outsider" PM was only intended to be used in a crisis."

The military lied about being politically nuetral, led about not desiring a coup. A flag officer and chief of the NCPO is now the unelected PM as Head of Government. The NCPO holds absolute power and has indicated it shall retain it for up to five years. Rather than putting blind trust in the military that has led 13 coups, the CDC should put trust in the Thai people. Placing a provision in the Constitution that allows a legal means by which the military can remove the elected PM under the pretext of "national security" or "martial law" and replace with one of its own as PM is directly against democratic governance.

The MMP system has worked flawlessly for Germany and now New Zealand for the election of a PM. The CDC should not bastardize it for the sake of some democratic "Thainess." I agree with Abhisit that political parties should be nutured and encouraged as the best means to represent the largest part of the electrorate. He recognizes that THERE IS POLITICAL ACCOUNTABILITY of elected officials. Where is the accountability of an unelected PM such as General Prayuth?

The CDC must move with the MMP system or admit that the military mandates the unelected PM provision. Thailand has had enough dishonesty in its governance. CDC should not allow it into the Constitution.

He recognizes that THERE IS POLITICAL ACCOUNTABILITY of elected officials

He is not wrong, BUT where is the accountability of these politicians other than their pockets. There are corrupt politicians who don't deserve to be even considered as party members yet they are still there waiting their turn at governing again. Any constitution that allows these fraudsters to attain power in the future is not a constitution, it is protectionism of the worst kind.

I would suggest that there isn't any real desire for a constitution where politicians become servants to the People, Politicians believe the People are servants to their will.

Having said that, I realize that politicians views are the same in most countries! It's just that here in Thailand it seems a g-d given right.

[Thai at Heart]

Any riskier than overthrowing a govt through mob protest or coup?

Hypocrite

[Thai at Heart]

"there was no member of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) who wanted to continue in politics after the new charter came into effect, and the proposal on "outsider" PM was only intended to be used in a crisis."

The military lied about being politically nuetral, led about not desiring a coup. A flag officer and chief of the NCPO is now the unelected PM as Head of Government. The NCPO holds absolute power and has indicated it shall retain it for up to five years. Rather than putting blind trust in the military that has led 13 coups, the CDC should put trust in the Thai people. Placing a provision in the Constitution that allows a legal means by which the military can remove the elected PM under the pretext of "national security" or "martial law" and replace with one of its own as PM is directly against democratic governance.

The MMP system has worked flawlessly for Germany and now New Zealand for the election of a PM. The CDC should not bastardize it for the sake of some democratic "Thainess." I agree with Abhisit that political parties should be nutured and encouraged as the best means to represent the largest part of the electrorate. He recognizes that THERE IS POLITICAL ACCOUNTABILITY of elected officials. Where is the accountability of an unelected PM such as General Prayuth?

The CDC must move with the MMP system or admit that the military mandates the unelected PM provision. Thailand has had enough dishonesty in its governance. CDC should not allow it into the Constitution.

They won't be able to resist thaiifying it.

They are terrified of letting go. I don't see what difference it makes anyway. Just dont change it. When it doesnt work as you like for a year or two. Have a coup.

[billd766]

cash was loved and became a god to the godless.

Of course Geordie was never elected by the people so his rejection of other dictators seems ironic

Or the fact that there is an outsider PM at this moment is even more ironic!

The plan is called dictatorship

There was a de facto outsider PM during the last government too and he was a convicted criminal fugitive as well.

[Issangeorge]

Any system that has reps appointed (by whom?) instead of fully elected could never call itself a democracy.

Britain's House of Lords is appointed, and Canada's Senate is appointed, and they are considered democracies.

[Issangeorge]

Samack Sundaravej and Abhisit Vejjajiva, were the only two Prime ministers since the 1997 constitution, actually elected directly by the people. In 2007 they were both elected to represent Bangkok's constituency 6. Thaksin and the other Prime ministers were party list members and thus never elected directly by the people. Thaksin the one time his name was on a ballot for direct election, to elect the representatives to form the people's constitution of 1997 lost.