Candidate to matter as much as party under new law: Meechai

[snoop1130]

Candidate to matter as much as party under new law: Meechai

By The Nation

 

 

Constitution Drafting Commission [CDC] chairman Meechai Ruchupan on Monday explained that under the draft organic law on MPs, the new system in which each candidate from a party would have their own number at the ballot box had been developed with a view to making the individual candidate matter as much as the party at election time.
 

Besides, this approach might also prevent vote-buying across the country, he said.

 

The new system would put an end to the saying that “some parties could field an electric pole and still win”, which was insulting to the voting public, Meechai stressed.

 

The “electric pole” notion is widely used to demonstrate the fact that some voters are so loyal to a party that they will vote for any candidate it fields.

 

“If all constituency candidates share the same number, not only will there be a higher chance of fraud, but also the voters will not give importance to the individual candidate. As a result, the candidate would feel as though they were the party’s servant,” he said by way of clarification.

 

“The intention actually is to ensure that the MPs are competent, in parallel with the party’s popularity,” the CDC chief added.

 

With some having argued that the new approach could confuse voters, Meechai responded that people today were not illiterate or lacking an understanding of politics, unlike in the past.

 

At least, they should be able to recognise the candidates and their affiliations, in addition to learning about them prior to the vote, he said.

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-8-7

[Srikcir]

20 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The new system would put an end to the saying that “some parties could field an electric pole and still win”

Yet,

20 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Meechai responded that people today were not illiterate or lacking an understanding of politics

So if people want to vote for an electric pole, an illiterate candidate, a garbage collector, a deaf mute, etc. that should be their constitutional right. Frankly, a street light might be more honest and transparent than Prayut.

Practically, the pole wouldn't qualify under the new regulations so the basis for the new system is unjustified.