'New voting system good for parties'

[rooster59]

'New voting system good for parties'

BANGKOK: It will make them stronger and give democracy boost too, says CDC

Members of the Constitution Drafting Commission are convinced that their proposed new electoral system would help strengthen the political parties, as the number of seats they would get in the House of Representatives would better reflect their popularity among voters.

Chatchai Na Chiangmai, one of the 21 constitution drafters, told reporters yesterday that the drafters came up with the mixed-members apportionment system in order to ensure that every vote counted.

Under the MMA, voters are required to vote only once - for constituency MPs. The votes political parties get from all the constituencies would be calculated to determine the number of seats each contesting party got under the party-list system. The drafters have agreed to have 500 members of Parliament - 350 of them from constituencies and 150 from the party list.

Chatchai said that under the new system, the number of party-list seats would be based on the "popularity vote" percentage parties got.

In explaining why only one vote ballot would be used for both the constituency and the party-list voting, he said that unlike developed countries political parties in Thailand were weak and had no clear platforms in their election campaigning. He said the use of a single ballot would help strengthen parties and force them to be more choosy in fielding candidates.

He also tried to allay concerns that larger political parties might be at a disadvantage if this MMA electoral system came into effect.

"The popularity votes will be counted first. If they get more popularity votes, it means they have an advantage over smaller parties," Chatchai said.

The charter drafter said that as the new MMA system was based on the support of voters, smaller political parties would have to adapt in order to gain more backing.

"This is real democracy. Parties with more popularity should get more MPs. Parties with less popularity get fewer MP seats. It's fair, isn't it?" he said.

There are concerns the new system would confuse voters, as votes from constituencies would also be counted as party-list votes, but Chatchai does not think it would.

He said the mass media should help the CDC change people's way of thinking. "Many Thais normally stick to individuals [in politics]," he said. He said that in any democracy, political parties must serve as an institution and must create new breeds of politicians to make good policies. "If we use this new system for the next few elections, the political system will be better," he said.

"Good people must find good parties to be affiliated [with]. This new system will help boost the strength and stability of political parties."

Academic Sombat Thamrong-thanyawong, from the National Institution of Development Administration, warned yesterday that the MMA system could lead to weak coalition governments.

He said it was unlikely any political party would get majority control and there would be a need to form a coalition administration consisting of many parties.

Democrat Party deputy leader Nipit Intarasombat thanked the CDC for being open-minded and listening to the various suggestions given to it. He noted that CDC chairman Meechai Ruchupan and other drafters had made major changes based on the suggestions they obtained.

The politician also called on the CDC to include in the new constitution a lifetime ban for election candidates found to have been corrupt while serving in public office.

Democrat politician Korn Chatikavanij yesterday met with the CDC to propose his personal suggestions about a new constitution, according to the commission's spokesman Norachit Sinhaseni.

On Thursday, Korn wrote on his Facebook page that he agreed with the all-votes-matter principle. However, he said he saw it as problematic on many levels.

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/New-voting-system-good-for-parties-30272470.html

-- The Nation 2015-11-07

[Fiddlesticks]

'New voting system good for parties'

No thanks! I'll just stick with a DJ and a couple kegs!

[madmitch]

The MMA system? Sounds like two constituency candidates get into the ring and fight it out, the winner securing the seat.

Well, it would cut out the vote buying!

[waldroj]

I beg to differ with Chatchai - this is anything but real democracy. It is blatant manipulation of the next election to achieve the necessary outcome for a quick return to military control of Thailand.

Weak coalition government is exactly what the junta wants.

Even by their own admission, it will be almost impossible for any party to form government in its own right.

The only outcome will be a dysfunctional system due to infighting between fragmented coalition partners.

This guarantees that the crisis panel will be needed sooner rather than later. Then the military are back!

[chainarong]

Coming from the Westminster system this proposal is as clear as mud , it is too cumbersome and in some instances could prove unworkable , can't these people look to the most simplistic method that cannot encourage corruption somewhere around the world , one gets the jitters when Thai experts from somewhere start tinkering as you can bet your last dollar that it is full of intentional holes ripe for the pickins, try the KISS method , keep it simple stupid..........

[thelonius]

This is what you get if you employ a 77 year old "Law expert and veteran of several previous constitutions" to write a constitution in modern day Thailand. In fact he is so good at his job that all of his previous constitutions have needed to be clarified/interpreted by the Constitutional Court, its clauses amended and finally, once the military step in, torn up and discarded. What make the junta think that this constitution will be any different ( he asks rhetorically)? Oh wait this is the 19th Coup isn't it - and this one will work?

It's as plain as day what the intention is and it has nothing to do with altruistic intentions towards the Thai people

[Srikcir]

Members of the Constitution Drafting Commission have ...

- experienced up to 20 abolished electoral systems

- never had any real experience with MMA

- not found any country in the world using MMA

- recognized that proportionality may not reflect the real result

- supported the electoral process prescribed in the 2007 Constitution

are now magically convinced that their proposed new electoral system would help strengthen Thai political parties.

CDC should be renamed the "Miracle Drafting Commission" because it is depending on a leap of faith. The 40 million Thai voters deserve more respect to their self-determination.

[billd766]

IMHO, which of course is worthless here in Thailand, the best way is to abolish the party list MPs system and every candidate who wants to be an MP must stand for a constituency election. Ministers should be selected from the party which either has the most votes or can get a coalition together and the PM should be chosen from the winning party.

In addition the PM and the cabinet Ministers have to retain their constituency seat (no family or crony replacements) and NO political immunity for anyone when parliament is in or out of session. If an MP resigns his seat while parliament is in session, a by election must be called and the outgoing MP has to pay the cost of it personally.

If an MP wishes to change to a different party while parliament is in session, a by election must be called and the outgoing MP has to pay the cost of it personally.

[khunken]

As far as I understand it, it is pretty much the same as the previous voting system with the exception that electors only get one vote instead of two. It doesn't allow for a constituency vote for a favoured local politician and a possible vote for another party.

I much preferred the real MMA system that the previous disbanded CDC came up with.

[Alwyn]

"Members of the Constitution Drafting Commission are convinced that their proposed new electoral system would help strengthen the political parties" ?? The only parties that need strengthening are the ones that lose, right? The ones that win will be perfectly happy with the way it is (right or wrong). Just another load of smoke and mirrors that will cause disagreement and hence give the junta the excuse it needs to keep their illegal grip on the country

[Siammodels]

Shakey and violatile system that allows corruption and favours Prayut

The people are aware of this as shown already

Bye Sir

[Wombat6]

"Members of the Constitution Drafting Commission are convinced that their proposed new electoral system would help strengthen the political parties" ?? The only parties that need strengthening are the ones that lose, right? The ones that win will be perfectly happy with the way it is (right or wrong). Just another load of smoke and mirrors that will cause disagreement and hence give the junta the excuse it needs to keep their illegal grip on the country

Illegal grip on the country ??? HM the King legally appointed Prayut as the PM....where are your facts to illustrate Illegality ??

[Alwyn]

"Members of the Constitution Drafting Commission are convinced that their proposed new electoral system would help strengthen the political parties" ?? The only parties that need strengthening are the ones that lose, right? The ones that win will be perfectly happy with the way it is (right or wrong). Just another load of smoke and mirrors that will cause disagreement and hence give the junta the excuse it needs to keep their illegal grip on the country

Illegal grip on the country ??? HM the King legally appointed Prayut as the PM....where are your facts to illustrate Illegality ??

Fantastic comeback! Bringing his majesty into your purile argument as you know fine well nobody will make a comment (unlike you) about the King. So in your little World, coups are legal then?

[tbthailand]

academics, observers, and even the parties say that it will weaken the system and is undemocratic, but the junta lackies in the CDC manage to lie through their teeth and say that

It will make them stronger and give democracy boost too,

yeah, right, ...

[tbthailand]

IMHO, which of course is worthless here in Thailand, the best way is to abolish the party list MPs system and every candidate who wants to be an MP must stand for a constituency election. Ministers should be selected from the party which either has the most votes or can get a coalition together and the PM should be chosen from the winning party.

In addition the PM and the cabinet Ministers have to retain their constituency seat (no family or crony replacements) and NO political immunity for anyone when parliament is in or out of session. If an MP resigns his seat while parliament is in session, a by election must be called and the outgoing MP has to pay the cost of it personally.

If an MP wishes to change to a different party while parliament is in session, a by election must be called and the outgoing MP has to pay the cost of it personally.

I agree with you that a straight, proportional representative system would be best for MPs.