CDC defends new electoral system
KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE RECENTLY proposed voting system will not undermine political parties, but instead bolster them, the Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) said yesterday.

Under the new electoral method, constituency candidates and their parties will become more united, CDC chairman Meechai Ruchupan explained. Parties will also become more cautious when selecting candidates, because in the new system every vote will count, even if they don't win.

CDC's proposal for the new electoral system, put forward on Monday, has been met with extensive criticism. Under the new system, votes won by losing candidates would be used to calculate party-list seats in a move to use every vote count. Some critics say such a system could undermine parties.

Prapan Naikovit, chairman of the CDC's sub-panel studying the legislative system, elaborated that candidates would now have to present their party as well while campaigning, because every vote will go to the party even if the candidate loses.

"Previously, it was all about the candidate, who could go to voters and say: 'I'm Prapan. I'm approachable and ready to serve you'. [but under the new system] it doesn't work that way now. The candidate will have to campaign for the party too and tell voters what policies it has to offer," he said.

Meechai added this would discourage parties from being too arrogant about their popularity and fielding just anybody. "Thoughts like 'they will vote them in even if we field a telegraph pole', is an insult to voters," he added.

The CDC chairman added that public interest was the panel's priority, adding that it did not plan to favour or destroy any particular party.

As for concerns that some popular parties will be disadvantaged under this system, Prapan added that if the parties concerned won by a landslide, a unitary government was still possible.

Although, he added, coalitions are not a bad idea either, citing Germany and New Zealand, who are both run by coalitions.

As for whether other countries have used this system, Meechai cited academics when saying the proportional system was widely used, though calculations might differ depending on each country's context and history.

Thailand has the right to come up with its own approach as well, Meechai said, adding that Germany follows a similar electoral system.

Prapan went on to say that this was a sort of mixed-proportional member or parallel system, suggesting that it wasn't totally unprecedented.

"When the Netherlands introduced the proportional system for the first time a hundred years ago, it met with criticisms too. But later, people found it acceptable," he said.

Meanwhile, CDC spokesman Amorn Wiwichwatana said drafters have begun deliberating on Articles related to independent organisations, including their compositions, qualifications and authority. However, he said, no conclusions have been reached.

Also yesterday, CDC opened communication channels for the public to communicate with drafters or submit their suggestions. People can submit their suggestions via:

- PO Box 9, National Assembly Non-Delivery Post Office, 10305

- Comment boxes at post offices nationwide

- CDC website www.parliament.go.th/ewtadmin/publicopinions/frontend/

- The "Our New Constitution" Facebook page

- LINE: @ournewconstitution

- Email: [email protected]

- CDC office at National Assembly Building 1

The CDC sub-panel will gather all comments and hand the summary to the CDC for further deliberation.

Meechai had said earlier that all suggestions matter and the panel would take them into consideration. Though the charter may not be written exactly how it has been suggested, the comments could help the CDC understand people and what they want, so it could come up with a better draft charter.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/CDC-defends-new-electoral-system-30271909.html


-- The Nation 2015-10-30

We all just questioned your system and we are well educated westerners

You can not fool us,,, we come from a democracy where all political leaders big and small sit together

Your trying to reduce the chances for others and you are not qualified to point your finger

You currently have inexperienced party yourself

"CDC defends new electoral system"

Of course they do. Did you really expect them to propose a fair system then slag off their own proposal?

Hardly newsworthy, except in a Chinese Water Torture kind of a way. Tried and tested method of flying a kite.

They have not even had their first meeting yet, but it seems they have already decided on the type of system. Amazing how they can finalize that all so quickly!

I did not know they had an electoral system yet? WOW! When did that happen? Did they have an election already??

Every kid gets a prize, and there are not losers.

The reality will be that Thailand will be the loser, as major parties (the only parties that could form a government in their own right) will be severely hamstrung by this system.

Naturally, the end result with be a weak coalition of minor parties each bickering amongst themselves to satisfy too many vested interests. There will also be an overwhelming opposition that will overrule any decision-making.

The inevitable result will be a failure of the coalition, and wham-o, the crisis panel steps in for the kill!

every vote will count

need to read a bit more

but sounds good

Welcome to minority rule where Thailand will have a Polish parliament that can never agree on anything and the same old bunch controlling everything from behind the curtain.

"Germany follows a similar electoral system."

Not really as Germany's system does NOT allow a non-MP to become prime minister. And the NCPO continue to be adamant that there be such a provision in the new constitution.

every vote will count

need to read a bit more

but sounds good

Not really. What it means is that even losers can win if they're the right losers and are smiled upon by the 0.1%