Cabinet agrees to amend interim charter to stipulate public referendum

BANGKOK, 1 March 2016 (NNT) - The Cabinet and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has agreed to amend the interim constitution to stipulate a public referendum.

According Government Spokesperson Maj Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd, the meeting discussed ways the public referendum should be structured to meet international standards. The Cabinet will then forward its proposal to the Office of the Council of the State, which will then forward the amendment proposal to the National Legislative Assembly.

The meeting agreed that the referendum should be majority-based, with Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam to address the details of the vote count in a future press release.

Maj Gen Sansern added that the Prime Minister has instructed the NCPO to foster understanding of the government’s policies on drought relief, poverty and law enforcement.


-- NNT 2016-03-01

"Maj Gen Sansern added that the Prime Minister has instructed the NCPO to foster understanding of the government’s policies on drought relief, poverty and law enforcement."

Policies? The government has no policies so that is easy to understand.

The meeting agreed that the referendum should be majority-based, with Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam to address the details of the vote count in a future press release.

-- NNT 2016-03-01

What the heck does that mean?

The meeting agreed that the referendum should be majority-based

Really....Was there discussion that it should be minority-based?

The critical question by the EC, CDC and the NRSA was whether passage would be based on total registered voters or total actual votes. The 2007 referendum was based on total actual votes and passed by about 55%; but on a total registered voter basis, amounted to only about 34%. Obviously, the 2007 Constitution was going to be problematic in subsequent elected governments.

This issue can be resolved in the same amendment. But whomever decides the issue, I expect total actual votes to be the basis simply because voter apathy will favor passage as it did with the 2007 draft. And a simple majority (>50%) will suffice for passage.

The amendment could also address the issue of the draft failing to pass the referendum with a Plan B option. But I suspect Prayut will not chose such transparency as it forces him to predictability - something he doesn't seem to appreciate.