Drafters worried about public response to 2-year reform
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SOME Constitution Drafting Committee members have voiced concern over the impact that allowing a two-year reform process before holding the next general election would have on the public's confidence towards the CDC and the drafting process, a CDC source
“Society could be more sceptical vis-a-vis the CDC,” said the source.
Some of the members expressed their opposition to CDC member Paiboon Nititawan, who is also a National Reform Council member, after he and other NRC members proposed a referendum to allow the two-year reform process to finish before organising an election.
CDC spokesman Kamnoon Sidhisamarn said this issue had not been considered by the CDC, nor had it been approved.
“This is rather a personal stance,” he said.
This issue would affect the roadmap set by the NCPO and would require the amendment of the interim constitution, said the CDC spokesman, adding that the NCPO could be perceived as breaking its promise.
CDC members yesterday met with a group of NRC members led by Somsak Lostapornpipit, who told the charter drafters the group supported the idea of Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha staying in power for another two years.
Somsak, a member of the NRC’s public opinion panel, said that after collecting public opinion he believed the majority of Thais would support the premier if he decided to stay on.
The NRC group he led also supported the proposed article in the charter draft that allowed a non-MP to be elected prime minister by Parliament.
One of the few draft charter provisions that Somsak and his group opposed is the article that stipulates a “political group” could have candidates run for election.
Another provision the group opposes centres on the acquisition of senators, with the group proposing that there shouldn’t be a “candidates screening panel” for the Senate’s provincial election.
Charter drafters yesterday entered their fourth day for meeting with NRC members in the hope of settling their disagreements on some charter provisions through compromise.
On the same day, the chairman of the NRC’s committee on the reform of economy and finance, Somchai Ruchupan, and his fellow panel members met with CDC members. The discussion topics focused mainly on the economy, the budget balancing strategy and the anti-corruption measures.
Measures for the government to use with the budget have long been one of the key agenda items of the reform plan, which was written in Article 35 of the interim constitution. It states that government spending must not negatively affect the country’s budget and financing in the long run.
Former premier Thaksin Shinawatra-backed political parties that include the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai, the Pheu Thai and the now-defunct People’s Power parties were all accused of excessive spending for populist policies to gain votes, which hurt the country’s budget and long-term financial health.
Other members of the economic reform panel who attended yesterday’s meeting included Krirk-Krai Jirapaet and Pramon Sutheewong.
The CDC yesterday announced it had launched its official page on a “Line” application called “My Constitution”.
Once added, people can follow the progress of the charter drafting process that will regularly be updated, and people can send their views and opinions to the charter drafters.
The purpose of this official launch was to provide a communication channel between CDC members and the public.
