Bangkok: Prit has voiced criticism towards the Bhumjaithai and Pheu Thai parties, advocating for more public involvement in the process of establishing a Constituent Assembly. He raised concerns about the potential for a monopoly if these parties do not allow broader public participation in the selection process for the assembly.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Panusaya Wacharasindhu, a party-list MP and spokesman for the People’s Party, discussed the Bhumjaithai Party’s proposal for a Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA). He shared that the People’s Party has already submitted its draft to the Speaker of the House of Representatives but is yet to see the drafts from the Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai parties. However, he is aware of the details and expressed two main concerns about the drafts.
The first concern is the lack of maximum public participation within the frameworks proposed by Bhumjaithai and Pheu Thai. While the Pheu Thai model allows citizens to elect 200 representatives before Parliament makes selections, the public from various professions seems excluded from the selection process. Bhumjaithai’s method, described as “pumping up applications,” also lacks public involvement in selecting candidates for Parliament consideration.
The second observation regards the risk of a single party monopolizing the Constituent Assembly or the Drafting Committee. The People’s Party proposes a model where Parliament selects 35 individuals from 70 representatives elected by the people, ensuring proportional representation among MPs, Senators, and political parties. In contrast, Bhumjaithai’s model relies on a parliamentary majority, which could lead to a single party dominating the selection process.
Mr. Panusaya also addressed concerns about the Bhumjaithai Party’s model preventing complaints to the Constitutional Court. He insisted that the People’s Party’s model aligns with the Constitutional Court’s ruling, which states the people should not directly choose the drafters. He emphasized the importance of the full Constitutional Court ruling for clarity.
Further addressing questions about the Constituent Assembly’s composition, Mr. Panusaya stressed the need for broad public participation to avoid domination by any single group. He noted that as discussions continue, more public input could shape a model that better represents the people’s needs.
In response to concerns about the possibility of a blue-collar Senate, Mr. Panusaya highlighted that the process is still in its early stages. Once the first reading passes the principle acceptance stage, further debate and public input could refine the committee’s composition.
Mr. Panusaya also rejected the idea of the Bhumjaithai Party’s model justifying parliamentarians as representatives of the people simply because they are elected MPs. He highlighted the importance of proportional representation in committee selections to prevent monopolies by majority parties.
In conclusion, Mr. Panusaya emphasized the significance of the selection process for MPs in the Constituent Assembly, cautioning against a model that allows a majority party to dominate the election process. His call for a more inclusive and representative approach reflects the People’s Party’s commitment to ensuring broad public participation in shaping the nation’s highest law.