FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
nationthailand

'Charter needs transitional period'

'Charter needs transitional period'

The new charter should have a provisional chapter that allows for a transitional period before a return to Democracy in order to lay a strong foundation for the country and bring about national reconciliation, National Reform Steering Assembly member Wanc

He also said the charter should deliver a democracy that suited Thai society by having 300 constituency MPs on four-year terms and 200 appointed senators who are specialists from various sectors. 
The Lower House should select the prime minister, he said.
“This transitional period will help create political stability and heal the national divide,’’ he said.
“If we rush to have a full democracy when we have not yet achieved reform, the country will go back to square one. We must be sure that we will not fight again and then we can adopt an international model of democracy,’’ he said.
He said the Constitution Drafting Commission need not pay attention to any criticism if it believed it was drafting the most suitable charter for the country.
“Politicians cry foul because they believe their parties would stand to lose. They should have thought of the country first not their own interests,’’ he said.
National Legislative Assembly second-vice president Peerasak Pojit said he feared this charter draft would not pass a public referendum. 
Public hearings will be held to get public feedback on the charter draft in four provinces at the heart of the four regions of the country – Songkhla (Hat Yai), Chonburi (Pattaya), Nakhon Ratchasima and Chiang Mai.
Noppadon Pattama, a former foreign minister of the Pheu Thai Party, warned the CDC not to present ideas to the media which had not been prudently judged and screened such as political parties having to nominate five PM candidates. 
He also opposes having a non-elected PM, saying the issue had previously caused political crises in the country. 
“The country is not a guinea pig for democracy models which have not yet been proven or tested,’’ he said.
Suriyasai Katasila, director of Rangsit University’s Thailand Reform Institute, said the CDC should finish the draft this year instead of debating it at length over some issues. 
“They may waste too much time and may not arrive at any conclusions. Some innovation may not be solutions to the country,’’ he said.
RELATED
nationthailand