Directly elected PM plan vetoed

The Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) on Tuesday rejected a proposal to introduce direct elections for the prime minister and cabinet, saying the idea is untested and carries "risks".

The CDC decided the conventional parliamentary structure and relations between the executive and legislative branches should be retained in the new constitution.

CDC deputy chairman Suchit Bunbongkarn said the committee had discussed the direct election proposal and agreed the system under which the prime minister is elected by the majority of the House of Representatives should remain.

He said the CDC could not accept the proposal because the direct election of the premier and the cabinet is fraught with risks.

See also: Earlier report

"We were concerned the system would cause problems. The conventional parliamentary systems should be less problematic," Mr Suchit said.

He said the CDC could not know how the direct election system would have turned out, adding that it would be difficult to prevent political parties from being dominated by party financiers and businessmen, since national elections require a lot of funding.

"This may be seen as far from progressive. But being progressive has risks," Mr Suchit said.

He argued the conventional parliamentary system will still be able to address political problems, and there is no need for a dramatic change to an unfamiliar system.

Mr Suchit said the current system can be improved to prevent any political party from monopolising power in the House.

This can be achieved by reforming political parties so they become major pillars of democracy, Mr Suchit said, adding that MPs must truly represent the public rather than being manipulated by party financiers.

He said several proposals to improve the parliamentary system are being considered. One is that the House speaker could be barred from party activities, and that deputy House speakers be chosen from parties that win fewer seats, not from those that hold the majority of House seats.

Another proposal is that MPs are allowed to vote against party resolutions and retain their status as MPs if they are expelled from their parties, Mr Suchit said. He said the CDC will today discuss the proposals as well as other ideas involving the number of MPs and senators and their powers.

On the issue of decentralisation, CDC spokesman Lertrat Rattanawanich said the committee has concluded that power will be delegated not only from central government to local administrative bodies, but to civic groups and local communities.

This will mean that people can serve as "partners" in helping run public services, he said.