NLA calls for indirect election of senators

Surachai said the agency had already forwarded its 24 amendment points to the Constitution Drafting Committee.

The NLA also wanted to add a temporary provision that bans a charter amendment for five years to allow the reform plans to get implemented.

The agency suggested that the word “citizen” be replaced with “person” in the charter draft.

The NLA supported a non-elected PM as provided in Article 172 but suggested that the Senate carry out the duty if there was no Lower House and caretaker PM.

The agency also proposed the removal of Article 181 that empowers the PM to launch a confidence motion.

It also wanted to remove Article 182 that empowers the PM to sponsor a bill if it was deemed necessary and if the Opposition does not launch a no-confidence motion in 48 hours, the bill is enacted without having to go through House deliberation.

The NLA supported the election systems stated in the charter draft both constituency and open-list systems but suggested that all senators be indirectly elected. It cited that having both elected and indirectly elected senators would bring about conflicts between the two groups. It also reasoned that checks and balances would be affected because the same political base of MPs would dominate most elected senators.

The NLA suggested that senators’ power to propose legislation and impeach officials who are not appointed by the Senate be removed. It added that the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders should have the right to impeach instead.

It proposed that executive members of local administration serve a four-year term not more than twice in a row.

The agency wanted the Election Commission to have the same role and power as stipulated in the 2007 charter and opposed the merger of the National Human Rights Commission and the Office of Ombudsman.

It disapproved of the establishment of new independent agencies such as the National Ethics Assembly, the Election Organising Committee and approved the setting up of the Independent Reform Promotion Committee and the National Reform Strategy Committee.

The NLA also suggested that the charter draft allow senators who had assumed their post on May 24, 2013 and ended their duty because of the coup to be qualified as MPs and senatorial candidates, but not those who had served their term from 2008-14.