POLITICS / INTERNET ATTACK ON PREM, POLITICAL ACTIVITIES, SHAPING THE CONSTITUTION

Most want next PM to be an elected MP

MANOP THIP-OSOD

The majority of people want a prime minister who is an elected member of parliament, and fewer but well-educated MPs and senators, according to an ad hoc committee of the Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA).

The committee on public participation and the referendum produced its findings yesterday after the third round of public hearings nationwide, conducted through provincial-level forums and opinion surveys last Wednesday.

Worapol Sokhatiyanurak, deputy chairman of the committee, told the CDA his panel held 537 forums and surveyed the opinions of 36,324 individuals throughout Thailand.

The results showed the majority preferred that the prime minister be chosen from the ranks of the elected MPs (75%); that the number of MPs and senators be reduced (63.1%) and that parliamentarians have at least a bachelor's degree (66.1%).

There was also strong support for the scrapping of the party-list system (46.2%), and that senators be appointed, not elected (41.5%).

The findings from opinion surveys showed the majority wanted the prime minister to be an elected MP (68.2%), that the party-list system be scrapped (63%); that senators be elected (67.9%); and an end to subsidies for political parties (71%).

Half the people thought parliamentarians should have at least a bachelor's degree, while 40.9% wanted the number of MPs reduced to 400.

CDA member Pairot Promsalee suggested that the panel sound out public opinion on debatable issues again after the Constitution Drafting Committee presentts its first draft of the new charter on April 19.

Sitthisak Ekkapot, deputy managing director of Channel 9 television, said Mcot Plc had alloted time slots for TV and radio stations to dissseminate information on the new constitution from March onwards.

The committee's public hearing forums also will be broadcast live via Channel 9.

Bangkok Post
Tuesday April 03, 2007