Thai voters’ choice: a new system or a democratic one

They are weighing the pros and cons as well as different provisions in the new charter draft.

Before we decide whether to vote for or against the draft, we should first look at how this charter was conceived. It still holds true that people write laws to serve their class interests.

The need to draft a new constitution came after the previous one was abolished in the military coup of May 22, 2014. The coup-makers, National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), seemed to believe that the previous government should be blamed for the country’s problems. Also, their goal was to complete an “unfinished mission” by those behind the coup of September 2006.

For the people in power, the problems lie with politicians close to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and the legal system that facilitated the growth of Thaksin’s proxy Pheu Thai Party.

Politicians loyal to Thaksin and his proxy party have won general elections repeatedly, and they seem to remain popular for a long time to come.

The constitution of 1997, which is favoured by Thaksin and Pheu Thai, created the political system that we see today. Although that charter was abolished in the 2006 coup and the new charter of 2007 was applied, the ideology and political structure inherited from the 1997 constitution have remained unchanged. So, the previous charter was still influenced by the one from 1997. That means the coup-makers of 2006 failed to complete their mission.

The generals who staged the coup in 2014 have promised not to “waste it”. That could imply that they want to set new rules so that the country will never go back to the point seen before the coup.

A main goal is to neutralise the polarised politics by restricting the movement of politicians that the junta views as problematic. They have done a good job in this regard. But by using force, the result will be just temporary. In order to ensure a permanent effect, a new political structure must be created, which means writing a new constitution in a way they like.

The new political structure may be unsatisfactory to many, but the people in power do not seem to care. It appears they believe that what they do will help get rid of what they do not desire.

Judging from their goal, it is unlikely that the constitution drafters will make any serious revisions to the draft charter, particularly regarding the electoral system. A single ballot will be used for both constituency and party-list elections. As a result, no political parties will be able to win a majority in the House of Representatives, which makes a coalition government inevitable.

The post-election government will experience tough scrutiny measures by the new rules and powerful independent organisations designed to closely examine the administrative branch.

Also, the people in power have suggested a five-year transitional period, in which certain constitutional rules are not fully enforced. This is viewed as an attempt to maintain power when the country returns to an election mode.

With this information in hand, you – the voter – can make a decision easily in the referendum. If you want an altered political system that reflects the NCPO motives, you should vote for the draft constitution. If you want democracy, there is only one choice for you.