PM to be elected, drafters agree

Fewer MPs, party lists, senators all appointed

MONGKOL BANGPRAPA & NATTAYA CHETCHOTIROS

Chon Buri : The Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) yesterday decided five key issues, including the prime ministership, the size of the House of Representatives and the make-up of the Senate. The decisions received mixed reactions from politicians and political observers. The main thrust was the requirement that a prime minister come from the election process.

That killed off a push by conservative drafters for a provision to allow an outsider to become the government leader without a need to contest an election. Only seven drafters were in favour of the prime minister not having to be a member of parliament.

The drafters also agreed at their meeting to reduce the number of MPs from 500 to 400. The House will consist of 320 constituency MPs and 80 party-list MPs.

They also agreed that senators should be appointed, not elected.

These five key elements were the most controversial issues in the writing of the new constitution.

The committee must finish the drafting process no later than April 26, and will send its proposals for consideration by all 100 members of the Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA).

Earlier many politicians called on the drafters to maintain the number of MPs at 500, as in the 1997 constitution, arguing that a reduction in numbers could lead to political problems in the future.

The 1997 constitution was scrapped after the September coup last year.

CDC spokesman Pisit Lee-atham said the issues passed by vote yesterday were designed for the benefit of the public, not to please politicians.

''We based our decisions on public demands and did not take the politicians' concerns into our consideration,'' he said.

The CDC's recent opinion survey of more than 36,000 people across the country found strong support for a reduction in the number of MPs, the selection of the prime minister through elections and the appointment of senators.

The CDC agreed to lower the percentage of total votes a party will need to gain party-list MPs from 5% to 2%. This, Mr Pisit said, would allow small parties to have some MPs.

CDC spokesman Paitoon Varahapaitoon said a seven-member panel of respected experts will be formed to select 76 senators, one for each province. The remainder will be picked from representatives from a range of careers.

The panel will include the Constitution Court president, judges from the Supreme and Administrative courts, the head of the Auditor-General's Office, the Election Commission chief and representatives from independent agencies such as the National Human Rights Commission.

Many politicians and senators disagree with the cut in the number of MPs and all senators being appointed.

''The government is going to think on behalf of the people and act as Big Brother,'' said former Bangkok senator Rosana Tositrakul.

She was worried the appointment of senators could be influenced by some senior military officers and state officials who could find ways to put their supporters in the Senate.

Acting Chart Thai deputy leader Sonthaya Khunpluem was dissatisfied with the reduction in the number of MPs.

The former Chon Buri MP said this would complicate the party's selection of candidates for the general election.

However, he still pinned his hopes on the CDA, which could reconsider this controversial proposal.

Acting Thai Rak Thai deputy leader Phongthep Thepkanjana was concerned the way constituency and party-list MPs would be elected had still been not decided by the CDC. Voting should be on separate ballots to avoid vote buying, he said.

He also disagreed with the appointment of senators, which would hamper the progress of democracy.

However, Democrat party deputy leader Jurin Laksanavisit said the reduction in the number of MPs was acceptable, even though his party disagreed with the party-list election.

He also questioned the appointment of senators. This should be adopted only the power of the Senate was limited to the consideration of bills, he said.

A CDC source said some drafters, including a legal expert from Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, Komsan Pokong, disagreed with the prime minister being an elected MP because they had a ''negative perception'' of politicians.

Bangkok Post

Last Updated : Wednesday April 11, 2007