Academic calls for ‘normal’ parliamentary process
A noted political academic has called on the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to let the parliamentary process take place normally after the expected general election to allow the country to return to democracy with the least conflict.
Political observers expect that the NCPO may wish to prolong its power to fulfil the country's reform by having representatives in the House, in addition to its 250 appointed senators.
Prinya Thaewanarumitkul, assistant professor of Thammasat University's Law Faculty, said that three scenerios emerge following promulgation of the new charter. Based on past records, major parties would win a majority vote and could win a number of seats in parliament that enable them to have some effect on decisions regarding selection and election of a prime minister. This would need two thirds of votes in parliament or 500 from 750 .
If the NCPO wished to control the House it may need to have either the Pheu Thai or the Democrats to be on its side to back its appointed 250 senators.
Or, these two major parties could join hands and work together against the NCPO's representatives.
However, these hybrid formulas never work as politicians would rather work against one another rather than cooperate and the consequence is severe conflict.
The professor talked at the commemoration day of Sanya Dramasakti, a noted social critic and past rector of the university who served the country in several high profile posts including prime minister and Privy Council president.