BANGKOK, 20 March 2015 – Gen Lertrat Ratanavanich, spokesman of the Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) believed the German-based Mixed-Member Proportional Elections system will strengthen Thai politics and the political party system in Thailand as well as eliminate vote buying.
His comment came after he returned from a visit to Germany to observe the election system, together with members of the National Reform Council (NRC), the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) and the Election Commission (EC) visited.
As for the proposed establishment of the Election Organising Committee (EOC) to replace the EC, General Lertrat said, the approach is proposed to enhance transparency and fairness in an election, leading to highest benefits for the whole country.
Gen Lertrat confirmed that Prof. Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, a NRC member who holds a different point of view on the German-based election system, can still re-discuss with the CDC. Meanwhile, he vowed the CDC always listens to voices from all parts of the society in order to optimize the efficiency of the constitution bill.
If the Prime Minister orders a referendum on the bill, the CDC can organize the move right after the NRC has approved the first draft of the constitution, the spokesman added, saying the process will last three months.
