Thai officials to observe election in Germany

BANGKOK, 23 February 2015 (NNT) – The Government of Germany has invited a delegation of Thai authorities to visit Germany to observe the procedures and system of the country's elections.

The government of Germany has invited Thai officials to observe its Mixed-Member Proportional (MMP) election format after the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) has approved the use of this election system in Thailand.

Thai officials are scheduled to visit Germany during 15-20 March 2015 to collect essential information for the implementation of this election system in Thailand. The costs of the visit will be covered by the German government.

The Thai delegation consists of a total of nine persons. The delegation includes three officials from the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC), three officials from the Election Commission (EC), two from the National Reform Council (NRC), and one from Thammasat University.

The Chairman of the CDC Borwornsak Uwanno, the Chairman of the EC Supachai Somcharoen, the Vice-Chair of the NRC Tassana Boontong, and Prinya Thaewanarumitkul from Thammasat University, who has proposed the use of the MMP system in Thailand, are among the list of visiting delegates.


-- NNT 2015-02-23

Things will be so quite and smooth they won't even know the election had taken place

will they post their vacation photos on Facebook?

Can't help but think studying elections circa 1930 in Germany might prove more useful at present for Thailand.

Let's hope the presence of these Thai officials can keep the German elections honest. Germany really neds to get its act together, and these Thai officials can help.

Things will be so quite and smooth they won't even know the election had taken place

They will just sit there waiting for the coup

Well definitely a move in the right direction. Wonder why Germany pays for the visit though.

Nice gesture by the German government and it is good to see that there is not a rejection of outside help from Thailand. It would be even better if the assistance extends to when there is an election and Thailand continues to accept assistance.

This is much more positive than some of the sabre rattling that has occurred by the international community and is harder for Thailand to ignore.

Edited February 23, 201511 yr by issanaus

Bet they keep wondering why the money truck doesn't show up.

Can't help but think studying elections circa 1930 in Germany might prove more useful at present for Thailand.

It would help if you brushed up your knowledge of prewar German politics. Its slide into a brutal dictatorship was done strictly democratically and through parliamentary process. The elections were albeit marred by violent clashes when party affiliated militias tried to disrupt campaigning of political opponents. Any similarity with redshirt activities is of course purely coincidental.

Can't help but think studying elections circa 1930 in Germany might prove more useful at present for Thailand.

Yup, I was gonna say that!

That is a good place to study elections. In Germany they are perfect. People can happily vote, all media are reporting exactly the same things and no matter what they vote nothing will change in Germany.

Well definitely a move in the right direction. Wonder why Germany pays for the visit though.

They wouldn't go if they had to pay for themselves.

Well definitely a move in the right direction. Wonder why Germany pays for the visit though.

Because Germany always pays, if it is for Greece or Ukraine or Thailand.....If someone need money......ask Germany

What a complete waste of time. A military junta sending minions to watch an election.

Can't help but think studying elections circa 1930 in Germany might prove more useful at present for Thailand.

It would help if you brushed up your knowledge of prewar German politics. Its slide into a brutal dictatorship was done strictly democratically and through parliamentary process. The elections were albeit marred by violent clashes when party affiliated militias tried to disrupt campaigning of political opponents. Any similarity with redshirt activities is of course purely coincidental.

Its slide into a brutal dictatorship was done strictly democratically and through parliamentary process.

that would be interesting if it were true...

but it was through backroom deals, arm-twisting the elites, and fear-mongering that Hitler gained power...

Well definitely a move in the right direction. Wonder why Germany pays for the visit though.

this article doesn't say that Germany is paying.

They may need attitude adjustment upon their return. Sadly Thais do not observe other elections, because circumstances in Thailand are just so special that working, outside principles will just not work ;-) . Again would like to stress Taiwan and Japan in that order.

Well definitely a move in the right direction. Wonder why Germany pays for the visit though.

Because Germany always pays, if it is for Greece or Ukraine or Thailand.....If someone need money......ask Germany

You have contact details for the right person I should ask in Germany?

Well definitely a move in the right direction. Wonder why Germany pays for the visit though.

this article doesn't say that Germany is paying.

" The costs of the visit will be covered by the German government." seems clear to me.....

who do you think pays the German government????

Well definitely a move in the right direction. Wonder why Germany pays for the visit though.

this article doesn't say that Germany is paying.

Yes it does.

The costs of the visit will be covered by the German government.

Invitation to Germany
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Germany has invited the Constitutional Drafting Committee, the Election Commission and the National Reform Council to Germany to learn about the mixed-member proportional election system.

Germany's MMP election system has been referred to as a role model for potential application in Thailand.

The three principle institutions will visit Germany between March 15 and 20. All expenses will be paid by the German government.

Among the nine Thai delegates will be three CDC members, its president Borwornsak Uwanno, secretary Kanjanarat Leeviroj and spokesperson General Lertrat Rattanawanich.

The three EC delegates will be its president Supachai Somcharoen as well as Boonsong Noisopon and Pravich Rattanapian. The NRC will send Tasana Boontong and Sombat Tamrongtanyawong.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Invitation-to-Germany-30254648.html


-- The Nation 2015-02-23

Worthless trip- they will be confused and paralysed in shock after they found out there is more than one party and neither of them consist of army or police generals.

Can't help but think studying elections circa 1930 in Germany might prove more useful at present for Thailand.

It would help if you brushed up your knowledge of prewar German politics. Its slide into a brutal dictatorship was done strictly democratically and through parliamentary process. The elections were albeit marred by violent clashes when party affiliated militias tried to disrupt campaigning of political opponents. Any similarity with redshirt activities is of course purely coincidental.

Its slide into a brutal dictatorship was done strictly democratically and through parliamentary process.

that would be interesting if it were true...

but it was through backroom deals, arm-twisting the elites, and fear-mongering that Hitler gained power...

It doesn´t fit your agenda so you try to rewrite history. The Empowerment Act (Ermaechtigungsgesetz) was voted for in parliament and the MPs of all parties voted for it, except the communists who were already in prison or makeshift concentration camps after Marinus van der Lubbe had set fire to the Reichstag, and the Social Democrats - in their last act of defiance.

If anything, the German Republic of Weimar serves as an example how a democratic system without sufficient checks and balances, insufficient separation of powers (the Reichspraesident could overrule the Government by issuing "emergency acts" (Notverordnungen) and a biased law enforcement coupled with a widespread aversion of the middle and upper classes against this parliamentary system (discredited as being forced upon Germany by the "enemy"), is doomed to fail. A lesson for Thailand?

German history is my home turf, so snappy one-liners are getting you nowhere, apart from off-topic.

Yes very wise to observe. Then after returning, officials do whatever they want anyways. Thailand not like Germany and Thai's know better than German. Free holiday trip for officials, thank you very much Thai taxpayer. Useless trip for Thai's.

The costs of the visit will be covered by the German government.

just wondering if them officials will claim expenses anyway...

85 years too late..

Can't help but think studying elections circa 1930 in Germany might prove more useful at present for Thailand.

it was 1933. And at that time it was a real election. So what?

So, thai officials go to see an election system that is according to the German Constitution Court

against the German Constitution [Grundgesetz].

The german government ignored the court ruling and did nothing about the law

and because nobody cared ALL elections in Germany are ILLEGAL [as against the Grundgesetz].

So Thailand gets advice from one of the most corrupt countries on this planet ... isn't this funny

How things really are and what one might think what is are two very different things !

Especially when it comes to Germany.

That is a good place to study elections. In Germany they are perfect. People can happily vote, all media are reporting exactly the same things and no matter what they vote nothing will change in Germany.

yes, everything is perfect. Why to make a change if you are the leading country in EU? To make a change as Cameron is intending to do? Hahahaha.

But anyway, it's good to visit and study election matters. "the winner takes it all" is not a real democracy (see US!)