Drafters to hold seminar in bid to calm criticism of its political reforms

Participants will be given the opportunity to comment on the CDC’s proposals on political reform, which committee spokesman Lertrat Ratanavanich has said are not final and can be amended after compromise.
Lertrat said invitations to the event had been sent to every political party, and anyone interested in the topic was welcome to attend, including supporters of the red shirts and the People’s Democratic Reform Committee.
The seminar will be held on February 16.
The charter drafters have had rough exchanges with NRC members, especially the council’s committee on political reform led by Sombat Thamrongthanyawon, as their ideas regarding political reform clearly contradict.
That is especially the case for electing a prime minister, with the CDC proposing a charter provision that would allow “an outsider PM” during times of crisis and the NRC proposing that the head of government be directly elected.
Alongkorn Ponlaboot, a member of the NRC political reform panel, this week urged the CDC to listen more to the panel’s suggestions in order to prevent the new constitution being “shot down”.
“I believe there is a high chance the constitution would be disapproved or shot down by the NRC if the CDC does not amend the draft in accordance with NRC political-reform suggestions, with some members already reserving the right to propose the amendments,” he said.
Another controversial CDC proposal on political reform relates to senators being given “super powers” – having the additional power to scrutinise Cabinet candidates proposed by the prime minister and having the power to propose bills.
The proposal has been fiercely criticised by many politicians including Pheu Thai’s Udomdetch Ratanasatien and the Democrats’ Nipit Intarasombat.
The CDC’s favourable expression towards the mixed-member proportional representation system has also drawn much criticism, especially over its complexity and the public’s alleged difficulty understanding it.
Lertrat said the MMP system would be clearly explained during the seminar.
In a preamble on the event, the CDC said it had “deliberated on new principles regarding the political system, politicians and
political institutions and will consider these principles when drafting the charter provisions”.
“However, we are aware that it is very important that a seminar be organised in order to listen to and collect the viewpoints of the NRC and other relevant organisations,” the CDC said, adding that it would analyse, collect and synchronise the information provided by participants.