Argument rages on over Senate changes
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Parliamentarians continued attacking the charter amendment bill in relation to the election of senators yesterday, saying the checks and balances between the Lower and Upper Houses would be undermined.
The joint House-Senate session yesterday began debating Article 3 of the amendment bill in the second reading, which states that all 200 senators must be elected.
Appointed Senator General Somjet Boonthanom explained that if all senators were elected, they would not be able to do their duty in a balanced manner. He went on to say that it had been proven that elected senators could be controlled by politicians, who could then interfere in the work of independent agencies, adding that this is what led to the 2006 coup.
“This bill does not just go backwards, it also allows them to continue renewing their position endlessly. They will be allowed to keep running in polls without a break. Therefore, electing senators is not the best answer,” he said.
Another appointed senator, Poratep Sucharitkul, said democracy did not translate to elections only, but also needed transparent management, as well as checks and balances between the three pillars of power.
“I believe those who want to run in the Senate election will have to rely on political parties or they may lose. Once they depend on politicians, then we cannot avoid a parliamentary dictatorship,” he said.
The charter amendment bill aims to have all 200 senators elected, instead of appointing almost half of the 150 senators, as happens now. According to the bill, voters can only opt for one senator and the number of senators per province depends on the population. The bill also allows parents, spouses, MPs’ children and political-office holders to become candidates, as well as former MPs, political party members and politicians.
The joint House-Senate session will continue its deliberation from next Tuesday to Thursday.
Meanwhile, PM’s Office Minister Varathep Ratanakorn said the House had until midnight on Monday to complete consideration of the second and third readings of the budget bill for the 2014 fiscal year. If the House failed to meet the deadline, the government would have to send the bill, without amendments, to the Senate for approval. The House is set to debate the budget bill today and on Monday.
