Draft charter 'problematic'

[webfact]

Draft charter 'problematic'
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- POLITICIANS and a political activist pointed out yesterday that many parts of the draft charter remained highly problematic, including the clause giving the premier the "overwhelming" power to decide which legislative bills are significant and must be enacted.

Jurin Laksanawisit, a deputy Democrat Party leader, said the prime minister would have an insurmountable advantage since the House opposition would have only 48 hours to decide on whether to file a no-confidence motion against a bill, otherwise it would be deemed as having been passed.

He also told a forum held by the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) and the National Reform Council (NRC) on the crafting of the new constitution that it should contribute to the sustainable development of a parliamentary democratic system.

This is not to forget the preservation of what was considered suitable for society from previous constitutions and to bear in mind the mistakes of the past to avoid any setback. Even more, the open list system where voters can pick their most favoured candidates on the party list would create competition among candidates within the party.

It could affect society in a way that the political system would be dysfunctional and chaotic. Also, problems such as public resentment would follow suit, he said, referring to the political system.

Somsak Kosaisuk, leader of the Social Democratic Party, questioned the Senate's authority to remove politicians.

This should be left up to the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Persons Holding Political Positions, he said.

The current political environment of reform was somehow unsatisfactory to many, as the reform process itself seemed to be inaccessible to all parties.

Thaworn Seniam, co-leader of the PDRC movement, said at another event that many issues that have been long discussed remained unsolved in society, such as the reduction of disparity, reform of police institutions and decentralisation of the administrative system.

Suriyasai Katasila said the premier should allow the holding of a referendum on the proposed charter to ensure it would be one that was widely accepted by the public.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Draft-charter-problematic-30256079.html


-- The Nation 2015-03-16

[ChrisY1]

So....the draft charter allows for a non elected PM....now it seems that this PM can make decisions about which pieces of legislation can be presented........and other surprising powers that this non elected PM may also have......????

<snip>

Stitched up by the elite and military, so they can maintain power of any government.......elected or not.

Edited March 16, 2015 by Jai Dee
reference to dictatorship

[MaxLee]

Draft charter 'problematic'

Not difficult.... just my way or the Thai way,..

[smedly]

So....the draft charter allows for a non elected PM....now it seems that this PM can make decisions about which pieces of legislation can be presented........and other surprising powers that this non elected PM may also have......????

<snip>

Stitched up by the elite and military, so they can maintain power of any government.......elected or not.

how many times does it need to be explained - that a non elected PM will only happen during serious political conflict similar to what happened at the start of last year, under a normal political environment absolutely nothing has changed - elections held - wining party forms a government and the majority elect a PM from wherever they like

If a sitting government or PM is deposed from power for mal practise then emergency legislation kicks in to fill the gap until a new election can take place or the vacuum be filled by other means - it avoids completely people taking to the streets like the events last year - sounds fine by me

[Jai Dee]

Members are reminded of the following from this pinned topic:

Please use discretion in your references to the government. Phrases which can be considered as anti-coup will be removed. Referring to Thailand or the government as a dictatorship, military dictatorship or other such terms will be removed.

[jcisco]

edit: deleted

Edited March 16, 2015 by jcisco

[Strangebrew]

So the article is says correct me if I'm wrong " nothings has changed then".

[Srikcir]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

So....the draft charter allows for a non elected PM....now it seems that this PM can make decisions about which pieces of legislation can be presented........and other surprising powers that this non elected PM may also have......????

<snip>

Stitched up by the elite and military, so they can maintain power of any government.......elected or not.

how many times does it need to be explained - that a non elected PM will only happen during serious political conflict similar to what happened at the start of last year, under a normal political environment absolutely nothing has changed - elections held - wining party forms a government and the majority elect a PM from wherever they like

If a sitting government or PM is deposed from power for mal practise then emergency legislation kicks in to fill the gap until a new election can take place or the vacuum be filled by other means - it avoids completely people taking to the streets like the events last year - sounds fine by me

I never thought of military coups as malpractice insurance. Thanks for the clarification.

That would explain why Thailand loses 10% of GDP when used - kind of like a deductible.

It is amazing that no democratic countries carry such insurance and still survive peaceful changes in their governance. Perhaps Thailand should seek a new kind of insurance, like life insurance. The premiums of such insurance get lower every year when democracy is sustained, eventually disappearing.

[h90]

So....the draft charter allows for a non elected PM....now it seems that this PM can make decisions about which pieces of legislation can be presented........and other surprising powers that this non elected PM may also have......????

<snip>

Stitched up by the elite and military, so they can maintain power of any government.......elected or not.

Lets hope so, the only reasonable governments I saw here was Prayut and Surayud.....All others were qualitywise out of the scale....

[candide]

So....the draft charter allows for a non elected PM....now it seems that this PM can make decisions about which pieces of legislation can be presented........and other surprising powers that this non elected PM may also have......????

<snip>

Stitched up by the elite and military, so they can maintain power of any government.......elected or not.

how many times does it need to be explained - that a non elected PM will only happen during serious political conflict similar to what happened at the start of last year, under a normal political environment absolutely nothing has changed - elections held - wining party forms a government and the majority elect a PM from wherever they like

If a sitting government or PM is deposed from power for mal practise then emergency legislation kicks in to fill the gap until a new election can take place or the vacuum be filled by other means - it avoids completely people taking to the streets like the events last year - sounds fine by me

For once I agree with you on one point. They put everything in place to make coups without needing unelegant military coups.

[MisterBig]

So....the draft charter allows for a non elected PM....now it seems that this PM can make decisions about which pieces of legislation can be presented........and other surprising powers that this non elected PM may also have......????

<snip>

Stitched up by the elite and military, so they can maintain power of any government.......elected or not.

how many times does it need to be explained - that a non elected PM will only happen during serious political conflict similar to what happened at the start of last year, under a normal political environment absolutely nothing has changed - elections held - wining party forms a government and the majority elect a PM from wherever they like

If a sitting government or PM is deposed from power for mal practise then emergency legislation kicks in to fill the gap until a new election can take place or the vacuum be filled by other means - it avoids completely people taking to the streets like the events last year - sounds fine by me

How many times does it have to be explained, there will be no coup and if there is Prayuth most definitely will not be the new PM.

Time to put on your big boy pants Smedly......

Sometimes people lie.

The whole system is being set up to be as unstable as possible where a tiny minority will be able to engineer the desired circumstances to bring about unelected rule without much fuss.

No other nation has such an abundance of crappy constitutional clauses as the Junta is forcing on the people here.

What's fine by you is not fine by the majority of Thais - thus no referendum or anti Junta polls.