Despite differences, NRC expected to endorse charter draft
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National Reform Council members dissected the constitution draft into pieces during their recent meeting to scrutinise it. But political observers are quite certain this draft will finally get approval from the reformers' council.
At their meeting from April 20-26, NRC members scrutinised the draft completed by the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) and they made several suggestions for revisions.
Most of the suggestions came from key players in the NRC, including political reform panel chairman Sombat Thamrongthanyawong and legal and justice system reform panel chairman Seree Suwanphanont, who both disagreed to half of the charter’s content.
Although NRC members had their reservations about many provisions in the draft constitution, observers are convinced that they do not have the courage to vote it down.
Proposals raised during the NRC’s meeting would mean nothing if its members do not submit their suggestions to the charter drafters.
Political observers are convinced that many NRC members have already planned their future political careers. If the draft does not pass the NRC’s vote, all CDC and NRC members will be replaced and the constitution drafting process would go back to square one, according to the post-coup interim constitution.
This would mean that the political careers of the more than 200 people in the CDC and NRC would be stalled for at least another year and the drafting process would start all over again with new sets of CDC and NRC members.
There is also speculation that NRC members have attempted to prolong their stay in power, which they deny.
But there are traces in the charter draft’s chapter on reform and reconciliation that supports the claim that members are attempting to cling on to power, particularly in light of the new independent agencies to be set up under the new charter. NRC members would be appointed to these new agencies, including the Reform Movement Council and the National Reform Strategy Committee.
Another independent organisation that would scrutinise politicians is the National Ethical Committee, which would likely be headed by NRC president Thienchay Kiranandana. He has expressed an interest in working in the moral and ethical area.
During the NRC meeting, members voiced concerns over allowing a non-MP to become prime minister, the mixed-member proportional electoral system, and selection of senators.
The new electoral system surely would increase the likelihood of a coalition government. Perhaps those reformers who oppose the relevant provisions do not want such a government.
The most controversial clauses seem to be ones that involve the Senate. The majority of the NRC’s members disagreed with the clause that states senators would come from three sources – an election, professional associations and the ranks of experts.
Many members proposed that all senators come from a direct election only. Perhaps those reformers, mostly from the provinces, recognised that an election would give senatorial hopefuls a better chance than the selection process.
However, they are not against NRC members being allowed to participate in politics in the future. Under the interim charter, only CDC members are prohibited from a role in politics – and that is for two years.
