Qualified democracy

Qualification – “a special skill or type of experience or knowledge that makes someone suitable to do a particular job or activity”.

Robin Grant obviously stretched his imagination to its limit to say something that would qualify Yingluck to be Prime Minister. Thaksin Shinawatra could have made his famous electricity pole, tipped to win the governor of Bangkok role, prime minister. One would have thought that qualifications to be prime minister should be:

_ Some knowledge of politics;

_ An understanding of the responsibilities of a democratic leader;

_ Previous experience as a lead?ing party member;

_ Previous experience as an MP;

_ A knowledge of the country’s Constitution;

_ At least one international language.

I make it Abhisit 6, Yingluck 0 on the above points. Grant’s own knowledge about the mandate is also incorrect. The PM is elected in the parliament after the election. The Abhisit government was formed as a coalition of elected members of the House.  

Which democratic mandate from the electorate does Grant mean? Demagogic elections should not count.

Richard Bowler

Bangkok