Next election could be in February 2017, Wissanu says

[webfact]

POLITICS
Next election could be in February 2017, Wissanu says
THE NATION

Govt may shorten 20-month road map; rules out appointment of ex-CDC members

BANGKOK: -- THE NEXT general election could be staged by February 2017, four months earlier than planned, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam yesterday told ambassadors, diplomats and representatives from international organisations from 66 countries.

Wissanu said he had laid out a "6-4-6-4 road map to democracy", giving six months to draft the new constitution, four months to hold a referendum on it, six months to write organic laws to support the charter and four months to campaign for the election.

However, this 20-month process may be deemed too lengthy, so the government might shorten it to 16-18 months, he said.

Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, president of the National Legislative Assembly, said he had persuaded five NLA members to represent the assembly on the new Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC). They are Somkit Lertpaithoon, Klanarong Chanthick, Pornthip Jala, Chukiert Ratanachaichan and Taweesak Suthakavatin.

The NLA members who sat on the old CDC should not be reappointed, he said.

Wallop Tangkananurak, an NLA member, said only three members of the legislature would secure CDC seats. They would be handpicked by Pornpetch rather than selected via an NLA vote.

Tuang Untachai, another NLA member, supported the move to amend the junta-imposed provisional charter for greater clarity on the number of votes needed to pass the plebiscite on the permanent constitution. The currently obscure clauses could be misinterpreted to mean eligible voters who cast their ballots and not eligible voters.

There is a big gap between the sizes of the two groups, which raises concerns that the charter may not be legitimate if too few people vote for it.

It is also important to amend the interim charter to state what will happen if the new draft charter gets rejected in the referendum, Tuang said.

"I suggest that the charter allow lawmakers to incorporate the contents of the 2007 charter, which has a strong anti-corruption mechanism, and the rejected draft charter, which has good reform points," he said.

Chusak Sirinil, chief of the Pheu Thai Party's legal team, said he did not mind if parts of the charters of 1997 and 2007 were used, since people knew the strengths and weaknesses of both versions. However, the charter written by the CDC was never implemented because it was rejected from the beginning, so it should not be put to use at all.

Both of the past two charters had the same election system that led to a strong government, so this part should be incorporated into the new charter, Chusak said.

The 2007 charter was widely accepted for its system of checks and balances, which was an improvement over the 1997 charter, but the check mechanism as proposed by the CDC's draft charter was a step backwards, he said.

There should be no non-elected prime minister, since that concept goes against democratic development, he added.

The balance of power among the government, the courts and Parliament must be linked to the people, Chusak said

"The new charter should include rules that are hurdles for people wanting to enter or rejoin the political arena. Any new organisation that may create divisions and conflicts should not be established."

The new CDC should not take more than three months to complete its work, since it already has charter models to refer back to, he added.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Next-election-could-be-in-February-2017-Wissanu-sa-30268951.html


-- The Nation 2015-09-17

[webfact]

DPM Wissanu explains national reform road map to international diplomats

BANGKOK, 17 September 2015 (NNT) - One of the deputy prime ministers has taken the opportunity to speak directly to international diplomats after the National Reform Council voted down the draft Constitution.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, was joined on Wednesday by Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, in hosting a special session in which diplomats from various countries and representatives of international organisations were invited to hear an update on the government’s revised duration planned for the national reform road map and related political process.

Mr. Wissanu said that the National Council for Peace and Order's reform’s road map will continue to be followed just as it has been designed, while stressing that the government and the NCPO will need to complete the reform process and pass a number of laws for a better political foundation in Thailand before an election takes place in 2018 at the latest.

He added that the Prime Minister will select a new team of charter drafters before the end of September while their official appointment will be made after the PM returns from his visit to the UN Assembly.

The DPM went on to assure his guests that the entire process, including the drafting of organic laws, should take 16 to 18 months, while confirming that a public referendum on the new draft charter, will still be held for the sake of the democratic principle.


-- NNT 2015-09-17

[gk10002000]

So what? Elections are meaningless if the country doesn't stand behind a constitution or charter, and doesn't let the civilians enforce it. Constantly having and allowing military takeovers makes elections meaningless

[Whyamiandwhatamidoinghere]

Could be should be but won't be...

[baboon]

Smart move. The stupid foreigners will never in a million years make a connection between this 'update' and our desire not to look like a pariah at the UN...

[tx22cb]

The charade continues ..... We're lost in this masquerade

[Somtamnication]

Next election will not be in 2017. Just thought I would put that out there.

[15Peter20]

The next election will not occur before the important event happens. However long that takes. Although democracy ultimately cannot be denied to the people, it appears to be alarmingly easy to delay.

[BSJ]

The next election will not occur before the important event happens. However long that takes. Although democracy ultimately cannot be denied to the people, it appears to be alarmingly easy to delay.

You got it in one! One or 2 years I am guessing.....3 years is a long shot.

[Assurancetourix]

Could be should be but won't be...

We knew already : indefinitely ( in french we say " aux calendes grecques " )

[gk10002000]

What is annoying is the propaganda and the names for coups throughout history use, usually invoking "the people's" names or in the name of peace or order or homeland or something like that, and always put the onus on the people to behave for the good of the country. Here are some examples:

Thailand 2014: National Council for Peace and Order.

Thailand 2006: Council for Democratic Reform, Council of National Security,

USA: Department of Homeland Security. I mention this because while not a coup, growing up in the USA we used to ridicule at other countries that invoked names like "Fatherland", or "Homeland".

Doing some quick research, Thailand is one of the few countries that has had modern day coups while a major fighting civil war was not going on. For example, Pakistan has had lots of coups, but there was a lot of violence going on pretty much since the first day the country was created and was usually not under any civilian government for long.

[MZurf]

"Although democracy ultimately cannot be denied to the people...."

Don't write stuff like that. The junta lovers might throw a hissy fit.

[metisdead]

Any discussion of the Monarchy or members of the royal family in a political context will result in a ban. This includes vague comments that could be construed as referring to the Monarchy.

Some posts containing vague comments regarding the Monarchy have been removed.

[Jeremy50]

The next election will not occur before the important event happens. However long that takes. Although democracy ultimately cannot be denied to the people, it appears to be alarmingly easy to delay.

The original 15 month deadline turned out to be too short, so they will keep on extending their tenure at their convenience. Amazing that no one seems to catch on. A bit like planning the house you will build with your inheritance, but the expected windfall just seems to take forever to 'arrive'.

[lovelomsak]

I have came to the conclusion in Thailand the people with power say what they want even if everyone sees right through. they donot care it is simple as that. They gave an answer and thats wll you get.Their answer are more like they are inferring that they donot need to answer to anyone, and they don't have to answer to anyone, no one can make them. That is the normal here.

[Happy Grumpy]

Next election could be in February 2017

Yeah, right.

[lovelomsak]

The next election will not occur before the important event happens. However long that takes. Although democracy ultimately cannot be denied to the people, it appears to be alarmingly easy to delay.

The original 15 month deadline turned out to be too short, so they will keep on extending their tenure at their convenience. Amazing that no one seems to catch on. A bit like planning the house you will build with your inheritance, but the expected windfall just seems to take forever to 'arrive'.

A lot of us do catch on but are simply observers.

[Eric Loh]

Too many white lies. Will only believe when the charter is completed and referendum done and dusted. Then the election need to be held within legal framework. Between now and the referendum, the period is everyone guess and the junta's manipulation.

[lovelomsak]

How can there be a legal framework to creat a constitution by a government that got in by a coup?. Is Thailand so used to coups it now has a time framework for the coup makers to creat their new constitution? This legal time frame stuff baffles me.

[jerojero]

Could be 2018, 2019, or 2025 too!

[h90]

So what? Elections are meaningless if the country doesn't stand behind a constitution or charter, and doesn't let the civilians enforce it. Constantly having and allowing military takeovers makes elections meaningless

yes, but how to prevent politicians who disregard the constitution to buy their power in elections?

[h90]

Could be 2018, 2019, or 2025 too!

I think 2020 would be good to clear up everything.

[quandow]

It could be I'll grow more hair on the top of my head by Feb 2017. Let's see which happens first.

[Baerboxer]

"Although democracy ultimately cannot be denied to the people...."

Don't write stuff like that. The junta lovers might throw a hissy fit.

One party, one vote, one leader - don't need a Junta for that.

[JAG]

I suppose that the Junta could step down and hand over to a popularly elected government, but then I suppose it could snow in Chiang Rai on Christmas day...

[a99az]

Don't hold your breath.

[Sam Jones]

Even tho people at the UN meeting will slam the General, his Propaganda Minister will announce the Supreme Leaders trip as a massive success ...