Draft Charter Forum I: Extra question on Prime Minister
Scholars at Bangkok Post forum say extra question added to referendum would allow unelected senators to help choose prime minister & serve as a military popularity test.
Scholars at Bangkok Post forum say extra question added to referendum would allow unelected senators to help choose prime minister & serve as a military popularity test.
CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM
Draft Charter Forum I: Extra question on Prime Minister selection
27/04/2016
Mongkol Bangprapa
The Bangkok Post held a round table forum on the upcoming draft charter this week.
The public nationwide referendum on whether to accept or reject the draft charter is scheduled for August 7th of this year.
What follows is a condensed version of the Bangkok Post story reporting on the forum, the first of three parts (see here). Part II will be published on Thursday.
Three academic analysts agree the Aug 7 referendum will actually a test of the military regime's popularity, and whether it should rule indefinitely: Poonthep Sirinupong of Thammasat University law; Wanwichit Boonprong, of Rangsit University's political science division, and Pattara Khampitak of the outgoing Constitution Drafting Committee. (Photos by Somchai Poomlard)
EXTRA QUESTION ON PRIME MINISTER SELECTION
Scholars at the Bangkok Post forum drew attention to an extra question that has been added to referendum.
Under the draft charter, there would be 250 appointed (non-elected) senators serving a five-year term during the transition period to full democracy.
The extra question that voters will be asked is whether these appointed senators should be allowed to join the House of Representatives in the voting process to select a prime minister for this transition period.
This would allegedly set a precedent that would allow a senate to help choose a prime minister which has never happened before.
MILITARY POPULARITY TEST
Scholars say the question is intended as a test of the military regime's popularity to determine whether it can remain in power.
If the question passed with a high number of votes in support, the regime could then say that the public wants it to continue maintaining security, while controlling politicians after the general election, the scholars said.
There would be no need for a conventional coup in the future if voters endorse the extra question in the referendum, said another scholar.
ORIGINS OF EXTRA QUESTION
Pattara Khampitak, a member of the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC), said the committee originally intended for the appointed Senate to only consider legislation and appoint the members of independent organisations (independent agencies).
The CDC did not intend for the Senate to help select a prime minister because this could create future political problems.
But when the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) proposed the extra question and the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) approved it.
PUBLIC WANTS TO KNOW: WHAT HAPPENS IF CHARTER FAILS REFERENDUM
Many people have reportedly not paid much attention to the draft constitution's content.
The public, however, does want to know how much longer the NCPO will stay in power if the draft is shot down in the referendum, and what the alternatives if the draft charter is rejected.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/948913/extra-question-rings-alarm-bells
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