Fewer parties expected to contest election: Election Commission

[webfact]

Fewer parties expected to contest election: Election Commission

 

BANGKOK: -- Election Commission (EC) officials conceded today that the new organic law regulating political parties would result in a significant decrease in the number of parties capable of operating, while strengthening their institutionalisation and improving public participation.

 

Because of the new so-called single-ballot voting system, the internal primary election, as well as the constitution-prescribed reform, the number of political parties contesting in the next election would be much smaller, EC deputy secretary-general Sawang Boonmee said after the agency’s two-day seminar in Conburi’s Pattaya.

 

The political parties joining the seminar had expressed concern over the changes, Sawang said. Among the top concerns were the establishment of regional or provincial branches and the collection of the annual membership fee.

 

Each party had different levels of competence and management, the official explained. The smaller and the medium-sized parties especially needed to adapt to the new law, he said.

 

The drastic changes in the new law pose different challenges for different parties with different numbers of members, Sawang said. However, each party has to comply with the law and the EC would help ensuring that they do.

 

Reportedly, the seminar heard that a proposal will be submitted to the Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) to revise the draft bill to make it easier to implement.

 

The EC held the seminar in Pattaya July 5 to 6 in preparation of further regulations to go with the organic law regulating political parties. Political party members had also been invited to hear suggestions and guidelines helpful for their adjustment to the new rules.

 

The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) passed the organic law on political parties last month. However, some key figures, including the CDC, had some concern about the implementation of the strict law and called for setting up a joint committee to review some clauses, including those related to the primary voting system.

 

The EC thus far remains firm that the new law is constitutional and that the difficulty in its implementation should not be an excuse to revise it, adding that it was necessary for reform.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30320104

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-07-07

[steven100]

Khun Prayuth Chan O Cha   

[Samui Bodoh]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Political party members had also been invited to hear suggestions and guidelines helpful for their adjustment to the new rules.

 

Political parties are not organs of the state nor bureaucratic entities, and thus should be allowed to organize themselves as they see fit, subject to very general guidelines.

 

The parties should reflect the wishes of their members, not a government committee.

 

I can only suspect an ulterior motive at the high level involvement of the current, appointed bodies.

[dbrenn]

What is the point of holding elections in Thailand? The army will kick out any government that they don't approve of.

 

A complete waste of time and money.

 

[Cadbury]

13 minutes ago, Samui Bodoh said:

I can only suspect an ulterior motive at the high level involvement of the current, appointed bodies.

I suspect you are right. Everything this tricky government does seems to have an ulterior motive with a twist in the tail somewhere. Nothing is ever open, transparent, honest and straight forward. 

[kannot]

why not start a "whats the  bloody point" party

[williamgeorgeallen]

still too many for the good generals liking. how can he get it down to just one party running?

[Lupatria]

32 minutes ago, williamgeorgeallen said:

still too many for the good generals liking. how can he get it down to just one party running?

Didn't that happen already?

[greenchair]

1 hour ago, williamgeorgeallen said:

still too many for the good generals liking. how can he get it down to just one party running?

Hilarious 

[Thailand]

42 minutes ago, Lupatria said:

Didn't that happen already?

KPCOC party.

[steven100]

We are lucky to have the Junta in control and Khun Prayuth Chan O Cha at the helm ....

no more unrest, fighting and bickering, no road blocks, airport is always open.

Khun Prayuth Chan O Cha 

[JonnyF]

2 hours ago, dbrenn said:

What is the point of holding elections in Thailand? The army will kick out any government that they don't approve of.

 

A complete waste of time and money.

 

Not a complete waste. Elections give the appearance of a democracy to the rest of the world. That's why it's so annoying when those nasty politicians aren't sufficiently subservient to the army whilst "in power", it forces the mask to slip for a few years.

 

Still, the new constitution should sort all that.

 

[greenchair]

Just now, steven100 said:

We are lucky to have the Junta in control and Khun Prayuth Chan O Cha at the helm ....

no more unrest, fighting and bickering, no road blocks, airport is always open.

Khun Prayuth Chan O Cha 

Perhaps that's because his mates were creating the road blocks, unrest, closing of airports, bickering and stamping their feet. 

And will continue to do so after every election. 

Because they cannot win fairly. 

[hansnl]

4 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

 

Political parties are not organs of the state nor bureaucratic entities, and thus should be allowed to organize themselves as they see fit, subject to very general guidelines.

 

The parties should reflect the wishes of their members, not a government committee.

 

I can only suspect an ulterior motive at the high level involvement of the current, appointed bodies.

On the other hand it does not seem to be strange a certain level of legality, organisation etc can be asked by the state.

If that is an ulterior motive, no problem.

 

[dbrenn]

2 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Not a complete waste. Elections give the appearance of a democracy to the rest of the world. That's why it's so annoying when those nasty politicians aren't sufficiently subservient to the army whilst "in power", it forces the mask to slip for a few years.

 

Still, the new constitution should sort all that.

 

Constitutions in Thailand are as worthless as elections. The army just rips them up and rewrites them if they don't 'work out'.

[maxpower]

2 hours ago, steven100 said:

We are lucky to have the Junta in control and Khun Prayuth Chan O Cha at the helm ....

no more unrest, fighting and bickering, no road blocks, airport is always open.

Khun Prayuth Chan O Cha 

[Srikcir]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

The EC thus far remains firm that the new law is constitutional

Shouldn't that issue be settled by the Constitutional Court before proceeding further?

Or has the Court already given tacit guidance to the NRSA and NLA that would not make such referral critical or cause any significant delay should a referral be made?

[JonnyF]

1 hour ago, dbrenn said:

Constitutions in Thailand are as worthless as elections. The army just rips them up and rewrites them if they don't 'work out'.

But the army wrote this one and it lets them retain power even when "democracy" is restored. So no need to rip it up, just tighten it up a bit if they feel they haven't covered all the bases or if anyone finds any loopholes. The fix is in.

 

[steven100]

Must be a sad life to constantly whinge and complain about the way your place of living is governed. Some just can't be happy.

[maxpower]

6 minutes ago, steven100 said:

Must be a sad life to constantly whinge and complain about the way your place of living is governed. Some just can't be happy.

You could of course read into your statement and translate it to -  "I'm alright jack screw everyone else"

[Reigntax]

5 hours ago, steven100 said:

We are lucky to have the Junta in control and Khun Prayuth Chan O Cha at the helm ....

no more unrest, fighting and bickering, no road blocks, airport is always open.

Khun Prayuth Chan O Cha 

 

We are not lucky but Prayuth is lucky to have you, will welcome your admiration with open arms and likely dispose of you when is suits or can see a buck in it.

[JAG]

why not start a "whats the  bloody point" party

You could call it the "Democratic Party!"

[dinsdale]

9 hours ago, dbrenn said:

What is the point of holding elections in Thailand? The army will kick out any government that they don't approve of.

 

A complete waste of time and money.

A fair comment but I'm afraid totally incorrect. The next govt. WILL be the army. These jokers are going to remain in or have control of power. There will need to be an uprising to get them out.

Edited July 7, 2017 by dinsdale

[metisdead]

Some offensive hyperbole posts have been removed. 

[The Teacher]

Too many fat cat Generals will have to find something else not to do 

[janclaes47]

11 hours ago, steven100 said:

We are lucky to have the Junta in control and Khun Prayuth Chan O Cha at the helm ....

no more unrest, fighting and bickering, no road blocks, airport is always open.

Khun Prayuth Chan O Cha 

Did he arrange free internet under your bridge?