CDC chief says some presenting distorted view of new charter

Meechai Ruchupan, chairman of the Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC), pointed to “a lot of attempts at distorting” issues related to the draft written by his team.

He rejected allegations that the CDC wanted to have a non-MP become prime minister by not clearly stating that a government head also had to be an MP as had been specified in the 1997 and 2007 constitutions. 

The CDC chief said all PM candidates nominated by political parties may not be MPs when the list is submitted to the Election Commission (EC). “But how can they be sure if their PM candidates will be elected?” Meechai asked. “People who tell you that the CDC favours a non-MP prime minister, they are lying. It is us, the voters, who choose the prime minister.”

The chief drafter also rejected the perception that the new charter would impinge on the rights of communities and individuals, saying the CDC had based this clause on the 1997 and 2007 provisions on this matter. 

“Our conviction is to ensure that the stated constitutional rights are actually applied to one and all, not just those who fight for their rights. That’s why the CDC wrote in the charter that it is the government’s duty to ensure everybody has the same rights, or it will be regarded as a violation of the constitution,” he said.