What good is an election if the constitution is not democratic?

Kudos to The Nation for another good editorial: 
“Now is the time for the prime minister to return Thailand’s governance, with its checks and balances, back to some semblance of normality. Otherwise, rather than leaving a positive legacy, his coup and reforms will place Thailand in even deeper jeopardy.”
I think the time to return to “normality” has passed. The new Constitution has damaged the concept of “checks and balances” to one where only “checks” remain. Peruse the sections regarding the “independent” agencies and you see that while they have great powers to hold a government accountable, there is little to no accountability for their own actions. And the anti-Corruption Commission, the organisation tasked with ensuring honest politics, has the fewest “checks and balances” of all.
Future governments won’t be able to do much, and if they try to do something slightly “out of the box”, they’ll be prosecuted. 
Enjoy the stagnation, Thailand. That is your future.
So much for “reform”. 
Samui Bodoh
Yes, kudos to The Nation for publishing something that challenges people to engage in some form of critical thinking.
The phrase “back to some semblance of normality” is a telling one.
nausea
May Prayut reign for ever over the people, for it is he that keeps the rabble factions at bay. Meanwhile peace and happy smiling people abound. More Article 44 is good for the masses, I say. Given the alternatives – another Shinawaster family member – really, what can Thai people expect to achieve? 
YouYouYou
I think it’s highly significant that The Nation is speaking out so frankly, particularly in its use of the word “junta”. 
Brewsterbudgen
As long as the US doesn’t label him a “dictator” he’s good as gold.  As long as his tenure is convenient for US foreign policy in the region, don’t expect anyone to rock the boat. And if elections do happen, don’t be surprised if the current PM is elected as the new PM. Hey! Freedom and democracy in action!  
connda
“Autocratic rule has outlasted its welcome.”
So says The Nation, the “newspaper” that welcomed it as a solution to democracy not working the way they wanted.
Well, tough luck, suckers. You’ve made Prayut’s bed, now you’ll have to get used to sleeping on the floor where you and people like you belong.
Denim