Position of ‘election inspector’ in draft election bill may be unconstitutional, says commissioner
Somchai Srisutthiyakorn on Monday said that he planned to ask the Election Commission (EC) to consider whether an election inspector, as stipulated in the EC bill draft, would violate the current constitution.
Somchai, who is a member of the EC, said that since the inspector will be appointed, it would not allow proper public participation in scrutinizing election affairs. This would prevent the EC achieving its mandate to bring about free and fair elections as stipulated in the charter’s Article 224, he said.
Article 78 in the charter allows public scrutiny over the exercise of power, political decisions and other decisions that could affect the community.
The EC will meet Tuesday to consider points in the draft bill for their submission to the Constitutional Court for a ruling on whether they violate the constitution.
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