Charter to allow relatives of MPs to run for the Senate

[Jonathan Fairfield]

NEW CHARTER

Charter to allow relatives of MPs to run for the Senate

KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN

BANGKOK:-- THE CONSTITUTION Drafting Commission (CDC) yesterday resolved to allow relatives of members of the House of Representatives to run in indirect senatorial elections.

Also, senators-to-be would not require an educational degree, the panel decided. CDC spokesman Udom Rathamarut said the drafters did not want to bar politicians' kin, believing such an action to be a deprivation of their political rights.

They are confident that the new election method would ensure a fair process, he said, as candidates would have to pass at least four steps before making it to the Upper House.

At the first level, they would have to be elected by people within their fields, a requirement that the drafters believe could to some extent prevent politicians from exploiting their popularity to back senatorial candidates.

Besides, he added, there are three more steps - from the district to the national level - that that they would have to pass through, so the CDC does not see a problem in having politicians' relatives running for the Senate.

Udom explained that the drafters wished to see senators who were experts in their fields with at least 10 years of real-life experience behind them, and not having a college degree should not be a precondition against them becoming a senator. That said, an organic law could set out that candidates need to pass an aptitude test to confirm their capability, he said.

The spokesman went on to say that 200 senators from 20 social groups would have three main tasks.

First, their role would be to deliberate laws. As experts from different fields, they should be able to say what standard laws should be in place to serve the diverse needs of the country.

Secondly, they should act as a check-and-balance mechanism, examining a government's performance by questioning ministers in Parliament. Thirdly, they would be the panel that selected or approved independent agencies' commissioners, including judges in the Administrative and Constitutional Courts.

Udom also said senators should serve a five-year term, with no extension. Moreover, the CDC resolved that senators would not be able to take up any political positions, such as ministerial seats or MPs, within five years after finishing their terms.

In addition, those individuals subject to an electoral ban would not be able to apply for a senatorial seat, even if their case had not been finally ruled on by a court. The spokesman said the CDC stood firmly in favour of the Senate being free from political influence, which was why its members would not be directly elected.

Also, the charter writers consider that the Upper House's members should have a different perspective from that of MPs in the House of Representatives.

The spokesman said the 20 groups in the Senate would cover a wide range of sectors, including government, the private sector and civil society, plus one group being left open for "other categories", to ensure that it truly covered all groups in society.

This approach would also embrace sub-groups of professional guilds, which the drafters believe would give the Upper House greater diversity.

Udom said the CDC had only set out the major principles for the Senate in the constitution, and further details would be stipulated in an organic law on senatorial elections.

In a separate interview, CDC chairman Meechai Ruchupan yesterday said the new constitution would include an amnesty for coup-makers, as it was "a tradition" to do so.

However, no conclusion has been reached about how many articles in total the charter would carry, he added.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Charter-to-allow-relatives-of-MPs-to-run-for-the-S-30275569.html

-- The Nation 2015-12-24

[ldiablo]

Let me get this right. A degree is required for a person wanting to teach in a country that has a no fail policy but one is not required for a person who has a hand in running an entire country.

Go figure.....

[Bluespunk]

"In a separate interview, CDC chairman Meechai Ruchupan yesterday said the new constitution would include an amnesty for coup-makers, as it was "a tradition" to do so."

Brilliant.

Got to love tradition.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Edited December 23, 2015 by Bluespunk

[Tatsujin]

Putting aside the "tradition" statement, the rest of what they are proposing kind of sounds reasonable ... we shall see.

[Pib]

Elected officials shouldn't need a educational degree to run for office. Requiring a degree for elected office is just a way to suppress the lower income class which are less likely to have (afford) a degree or maybe didn't even complete basic education. Yeap, requiring a degree for elected office is just a way for high income people to keep low income people as low income people.

Now higher education generally makes a person a smarter personnel (and not just on paper) and that's a good thing for any elected official (or anyone), but a degree should not be required to run for office.

[phoenixdoglover]

"At the first level, they would have to be elected by people within their fields,..."

The proposed Thai Charter is like a multi-level nightmare.

Who determines the electors?

Khun Suthep and the rest of the "good people"?

[phoenixdoglover]

"In addition, those individuals subject to an electoral ban would not be able to apply for a senatorial seat, even if their case had not been finally ruled on by a court."

Hence, a strong motivation to charge all of your opponents with electoral offenses and get them tied up in legal limbo.

The Thai Charter - a treasure trove of unintended (?) consequences.

[phoenixdoglover]

Re, the Senate:

"Thirdly, they would be the panel that selected or approved independent agencies' commissioners, including judges in the Administrative and Constitutional Courts."

This is where we see the courts stacked with judges friendly to the interests of the elite.

A New Years gift.

[trogers]

Let's get to the point. Positions of power are up for auction. That's all that is needed in the new charter...

[tbthailand]

wasn't the idea of being related to MPs part of what brought the impeachment charges against PTP? That's pretty cheeky, ...

but hey, if you're gonna roll a turd, you might as well roll a really big, smelly turd...

[Baerboxer]

Let me get this right. A degree is required for a person wanting to teach in a country that has a no fail policy but one is not required for a person who has a hand in running an entire country.

Go figure.....

So?

Why should someones educational background be a qualification for politics? Many people are highly intelligent and have acquired great experiences whilst being deprived of the chance of higher education. Do all other countries politicians have to have degrees? In Thailand MP's do.

Teachers should be qualified in the subjects they are going to teach and also have appropriate teaching qualifications, which is what the countries with the better educational systems do.

I know many very intelligent successful people who were never afforded the opportunity for tertiary education. And I know many highly educated people, some of whom went to expensive private schools and top universities but aren't that intelligent.

Education is often confused with intelligence - hence the rush to obtain "quallfications" by some.

[Baerboxer]

wasn't the idea of being related to MPs part of what brought the impeachment charges against PTP? That's pretty cheeky, ...

but hey, if you're gonna roll a turd, you might as well roll a really big, smelly turd...

It seems you can have relatives, as long as they're the right people and related to the right people.

Yes, you are right, PTP were mocked and vilified for trying to make it so that relatives of MP's could be senators too.

[lungmi]

Elected officials shouldn't need a educational degree to run for office. Requiring a degree for elected office is just a way to suppress the lower income class which are less likely to have (afford) a degree or maybe didn't even complete basic education. Yeap, requiring a degree for elected office is just a way for high income people to keep low income people as low income people.

Now higher education generally makes a person a smarter personnel (and not just on paper) and that's a good thing for any elected official (or anyone), but a degree should not be required to run for office.

Yes, you can buy many "degrees" in Thailand.

[GeorgesAbitbol]

I am quite sure the "relatives" of the next PM will be members of the army

[tbthailand]

wasn't the idea of being related to MPs part of what brought the impeachment charges against PTP? That's pretty cheeky, ...

but hey, if you're gonna roll a turd, you might as well roll a really big, smelly turd...

It seems you can have relatives, as long as they're the right people and related to the right people.

Yes, you are right, PTP were mocked and vilified for trying to make it so that relatives of MP's could be senators too.

Bingo - "elected" relatives = bad... "selected" relatives = good.

[EnglishJohn]

The reason Thai democracy does not work is because it relies of elected officials possessing a thing called honour. The Thais on here will confuse that with the term 'face' which is completely different.

The idea that the next Thaksin could have the Parliament full of his close family and life-long friends and a senate full of wives and other relatives is simply not going to work. If that were the case last time, they would have passed the amnesty bill regardless of protests.

Of course, if Thailand is lucky there won't be anyone as greedy, ruthless and hungry for power as him for many years. Most are just greedy.

[GeorgesAbitbol]

The reason Thai democracy does not work is because it relies of elected officials possessing a thing called honour. The Thais on here will confuse that with the term 'face' which is completely different.

The idea that the next Thaksin could have the Parliament full of his close family and life-long friends and a senate full of wives and other relatives is simply not going to work. If that were the case last time, they would have passed the amnesty bill regardless of protests.

Of course, if Thailand is lucky there won't be anyone as greedy, ruthless and hungry for power as him for many years. Most are just greedy.

Of course, if Thailand is lucky there won't be anyone as greedy, ruthless and hungry for power as him for many years. Most are just greedy.

you mean not someone called Prayout?

[Enoon]

The reason Thai democracy does not work is because it relies of elected officials possessing a thing called honour. The Thais on here will confuse that with the term 'face' which is completely different.

The idea that the next Thaksin could have the Parliament full of his close family and life-long friends and a senate full of wives and other relatives is simply not going to work. If that were the case last time, they would have passed the amnesty bill regardless of protests.

Of course, if Thailand is lucky there won't be anyone as greedy, ruthless and hungry for power as him for many years. Most are just greedy.

Thaksin! Thaksin Thaksin! Thaksin! Thaksin!

[Stargeezr]

Wow another way to have the politicians or their relatives to

get to the Senate! In Canada we are trying to get rid of our Senate for

this very reason!

[NeverSure]

Elected officials shouldn't need a educational degree to run for office. Requiring a degree for elected office is just a way to suppress the lower income class which are less likely to have (afford) a degree or maybe didn't even complete basic education. Yeap, requiring a degree for elected office is just a way for high income people to keep low income people as low income people.

Now higher education generally makes a person a smarter personnel (and not just on paper) and that's a good thing for any elected official (or anyone), but a degree should not be required to run for office.

Universities can't teach common sense and that's most evident by listening to some profs.

Cheers.

[rubl]

wasn't the idea of being related to MPs part of what brought the impeachment charges against PTP? That's pretty cheeky, ...

but hey, if you're gonna roll a turd, you might as well roll a really big, smelly turd...

The difference being that candidate Senate candidates are chosen by the social groups and on 'merits' rather than 'family connection'. At least that's the idea it seems.

mind you, I agree that it seems unnecessary complicated. With all proposals, 'clarifications' and other remarks it's getting as clear as mud.

Edited December 24, 2015 by rubl

[Srikcir]

"the new constitution would include an amnesty for coup-makers, as it was "a tradition" to do so."

Military coup d'etat is also a Thai tradition. Maybe that should be written into the constitution as well.

[waldroj]

Dropping the requirement of a degree is a positive step, BUT it should also apply to MPs as well.

The elitist degree-requirement, as it now stands, must surely eliminate a lot of decent folk from providing valuable public service (and, has so clearly been demonstrated, has not prevented corruption by "educated" MPs).

If it eventuates that too many relatives of MPs become Senators, then you would have to question the power and independence of the senate (but then again, this is Thailand).