CDC clarifies amendment to primary voting law

By The Nation

 

 

The Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) will affirm an amendment to the newly introduced primary voting system that proposes penalties for those involved in fraud.

 

However, it would not affect entire political parties, as had been speculated, CDC chief Meechai Ruchupan said on Monday.

 

Meechai said the tripartite law review committee would meet on Tuesday to consider the proposed changes.

 

He said the CDC insisted that the primary voting system was the internal business of political parties, and it must not affect the parties’ right to field MP candidates. The new charter has guaranteed this point, he said.

 

If MPs or senators were found to be involved in fraud, they must be discharged, as their qualification would become invalid, Meechai said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30321660

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-7-24

With all the changes made to the proposed constitution since the referendum and all the misunderstandings followed by unclear "clarifications" about subsequent announcement of progress, or lack there of, due to the necessity for organic laws etc, does anybody, Thai or Farang, really know where the country now stands on all these issues?  

 

I have tried to follow it all but must confess I am completely lost, which may, of course, be the Junta's intention, although I do now understand that the long awaited election will (supposedly) be held sometime next year. 

On 7/24/2017 at 7:03 PM, snoop1130 said:

the CDC insisted that the primary voting system was the internal business of political parties, and it must not affect the parties’ right to field MP candidates.

 

The CDC just made the argument as to why the mandatory primary voting system should be eliminated.

How a political party develops and advances its candidates to the voting ballot for public office is solely the internal business of the party. If a party follows a flawed leadership system that produces losing candidates or poor quality elected officials, the party can either make internal adjustments to attract better public support for its political leadership or cease to exist. 

 

As both Prayut and Meechai are so fond of declaring, a one-size fits all democratic system cannot (sic) be used in establishing the foundations of democracy in Thailand. Yet, they seek to impose a mandatory primary voting system without exception on every political party with the intent of achieving a uniform result in political candidacy and elected leadership. Might as well just institute a national one-party system which is what the government has been essentially since May 2014.