Democrat rejects draft constitution
Play
Democrat Party Abhsit Vejjajiva Wednesday announced that the party’s stand that the draft constitution cannot be accepted.
Abhisit said his announcement was not his personal view but it was the party’s stand based on the party’s ideologies. He explained that the party could not issue a resolution because all political parties were prohibited from holding meetings.
Abhisit told a press conference at the Democrat head office that the draft could not be accepted because of several reasons.
Among the reasons cited for rejecting the draft, Abhisit pointed out that the people would have much fewer rights in the new charter draft, compared to the previous constitution.
He added that the new charter would fail to end political conflicts that have been haunting the country during the past decade because the people would have little participation in the country’s administration.
He said the 250 senators to be appointed by the National Council for Peace and Order would become a new source of political conflict.
He also noted that the draft would also fail to promote the decentralization of administrative power.
Abhisit said the draft would also weaken the anti-corruption mechanisms.
“I can’t accept the draft just because if it is rejected, we will encounter the worse.
“On the contrary, I see that if the draft is rejected, the country will have a better opportunity.”
Abhisit Vejjajiva also called on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to give a better draft constitution to the people if the current draft is rejected in the referendum.
He said Prayut should not fear that turmoil would break out if the draft constitution is rejected, assuring the junta chief that if the draft is rejected in the referendum, the Democrat would support the junta chief to go on making a better draft for the people.
Abhisit Prayut should also adhere to his road map even if the draft is rejected and the prime minister should use the 2007 constitution as a model for making a new draft.
