New Thai charter: MMP electoral system 'likely to be dumped'

[webfact]

NEW CHARTER
MMP electoral system 'likely to be dumped'
KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN
THE NATION


National Reform Steering Assembly chairman Tinnapan Nakata, right, and his deputy Alongkorn Ponlaboot chair the assembly

Election Commission not prepared for electronic voting process : drafters

BANGKOK: -- A PANEL of the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC), which studies electoral systems, looks likely to drop the mixed-member proportional (MMP) system due to its complexity and technology issues.

The MMP system, used in Germany, was controversial when first proposed and was a part of the recently shot-down charter draft. Major political parties cried foul over the system, which was allegedly favoured to pave the way for a coalition government - to prevent "one-man rule" in the country and block the practice of "winner-takes-all".

Amorn Wanichwiwatana, a vice chairman of the subcommittee whose main task is to study different legislative systems, revealed yesterday that the adoption of such an electoral system would require an electronic electoral process - but the Election Commission had said it was not ready and would need some time.

"Hence, it would be impossible to adopt the MMP system for the next election. The CDC, it is very likely, would opt for something easier," he said.

The former CDC had adopted the system in an attempt to ensure that ballot results reflect the aspirations of all voters, as the number of seats allocated to political parties in Parliament would have been commensurate with the proportion of votes each party received nationwide. The system also offers small parties and independent candidates a chance to do better in the polls.

CDC chairman Meechai Ruchupan said before the CDC meeting yesterday that the drafters would like the electoral method to be mathematically simple and not too complex as to require a maths degree to understand. If the drafters cannot come up with one, they might consider adapting from those of other countries, he added.

He said the drafters would meet with the subcommittee that studies legislative systems on Monday to discuss the issue of electoral systems. The media was welcome to observe the meeting, he added.

Meanwhile, Prinya Thaewanarumitkul, a law professor from Thammasat University, who had advocated the German system, told The Nation that although he had done a lot of research on the issue, it was up to the powers-that-be to decide which electoral system to adopt.

A former Democrat MP, Nipit Intrasombat, said he could accept the MMP system, as it would help prevent one party from having almost absolute power in the national administration. However, he said he would like to see what method the CDC would propose before making any further comment.

In a related development, the CDC's sub-panel that studies executive bodies talked yesterday with Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, former chairman of the political reform committee under the now-defunct National Reform Council, about the structure of the executive body. However, Apichart Sukhagganond, chairman of the CDC sub-panel, refused to confirm if the body had finalised the matter.

Apichart said that currently his panel is studying different executive structures and it has given the CDC 12 projects for further study and deliberation.

However, Sombat revealed |that he had talked with the panel about the pluses and minuses of |the parliamentary system, saying that the major challenge to the Thai system was that most of the MPs came to power through election fraud.

Thus, they sought to gain back what they had invested, he said, adding that having a prime minister who was also an MP was a part of the problem - as the PM would help the MPs get their investment back.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said it was for the CDC to decide whether the new charter should impose a life-ban on corrupt politicians, as suggested, and he was not aware of any such measures.

But many foreign countries had such a measure, he said, adding the charter would have to go through a national referendum anyway.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/MMP-electoral-system-likely-to-be-dumped-30271288.html

-- The Nation 2015-10-21

[wirat69]

Other countries operate personal paper ballots for MMP, with associated software.... and Thai officials visit them regularly to review the process, so this article is not the whole truth, nothing but the truth....

[Srikcir]

"Hence, it would be impossible to adopt the MMP system for the next election."

Yet, the EC didn't notice such alleged difficulties when government officials visited Germany last year to witness its MMP system nor make any objection during the completion of the draft charter before it was submitted to the NRC for approval. If anything, EC's discovery of its own inadequacy to conduct a MMP style election is further proof that it needs to cease as an Independent Organization.

Whatever EC's excuse is, it never mattered as the 2015 draft essentially corrupted the adoption of the MMP system with the inclusion of new Independent Organizations and provisions allowing the legal overthrow of an elected government. Even Prayut had declared that there was no constitution (and thus no election form) in the world that could serve as a model for Thailand.

Thailand will have its own "Thai democracy" and the EC is just trying to protect its own organization in the next charter draft.

[somo]

They are really struggling to find a system that will dilute the vote of rural Isaan and also have it approved in a referendum. This is their main aim. They will have to somehow subvert any referendum which might prove tricky.

[Thai at Heart]

They are really struggling to find a system that will dilute the vote of rural Isaan and also have it approved in a referendum. This is their main aim. They will have to somehow subvert any referendum which might prove tricky.

Exactly. I doesn't make much difference to the outcome if there is only a two horse race and the vote is split 55 to 45. There is likely to be a conclusive majority.