Thai politics: Reformers and drafters clash but 'we're not enemies'

[webfact]

Reformers and drafters clash but 'we're not enemies'
NITIPOL KIRAVANICH
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THERE ARE still many issues |that the National Reform Council's political reform committee and the Constitution Drafting Committee disagree on in the draft charter, NRC members said yesterday.

Members of the political reform committee are set to discuss their opposition to at least eight major issues at their meeting this week.

However, Wanchai Sornsiri, spokesman for the panel, said the NRC and CDC were not enemies, and indeed had the same goals.

"We are not fighting with each another. We want the best for the country and to make this new constitution most suitable for the country," Wanchai said.

Contrasting ideas between the important junta-appointed agencies have existed for some time. The political reformers' opposition to many articles in the new constitution includes the adoption of the mixed-member proportional (MMP) election system used in Germany.

The NRC committee's proposal to have direct elections was not included in the new charter, leading the public to believe that there are problems between the two organisations that could affect the whole constitution.

The committee will meet in Chon Buri on Thursday and Friday to scrutinise the draft of the new constitution.

Committee spokesman Boonlert Kachayudhadej said the MMP system would be scrutinised because it was still unclear if it was suitable for Thailand.

The spokesman said that after his committee's chairman, Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, studied the MMP system he found its positive elements were the facts that it gave MPs from smaller parties the opportunity to enter Parliament and that each vote counted.

"In the new constitution there are more than 100 articles relating to the political area, which the committee has to scrutinise thoroughly," Boonlert said.

Another NRC member, Songchai Wongsawat, said the political reform panel realised there were still issues with the newly drafted charter, adding that the members were determined to make this charter the most suitable for society.

Eight biggest topics

At this week's meeting the political reform panel will scrutinise the eight biggest topics from the new constitution. These include the provisions on the parliamentary system, what type of MPs will be produced under the MMP system and whether the prime minister should be elected, given that a provision in the draft charter says a non-MP can be chosen as prime minister during a crisis.

The relationship between the cabinet and Parliament will also discussed, as will the relationship between government officials and the public.

Other topics to be covered include independent organisations, the structure of political parties and whose job it should be to stage elections.

Sombat voiced concern that the MMP system would allow smaller political parties to become "nominees" for larger parties.

"The German MMP electoral system is very interesting, especially in that political sides can select presidents of the Supreme Court and the Constitution Court. German politicians are honourable and trusted by the people," Sombat said.

"The difference between Thailand and Germany is the fact that Thailand still has a high corruption rate. If Thailand uses the MMP election system, the party-list system will have no connection with the people."

However, he said small political parties, such as Bhumjaithai, Chat Thai Pattana and Matchima, could form an alliance that would make them nominees. This could lead to an issue similar to what Germany had been unable to eradicate.

He added: "Members of my committee still get many requests from the people for a directly elected prime minister."

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Reformers-and-drafters-clash-but-were-not-enemies-30256619.html


-- The Nation 2015-03-24

[NeilSA1]

"We are not fighting with each another. We want the best for the country and to make this new constitution most suitable for the country," Wanchai said.

Please God that this is true.

[NongKhaiKid]

"We are not fighting with each another. We want the best for the country and to make this new constitution most suitable for the country," Wanchai said.

Please God that this is true.

But ... !

[Strangebrew]

For a second that it said "were not enemas", Man that would have been the chit's I got to learn to read slower.

[Strangebrew]

Of course that statement is right up there with Richard Nixion's " I'm not a crook" statement.