BANGKOK, 4 April 2015 – The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) says it does not think the new electoral system under the draft constitution would solve the problem of vote buying, saying the charter drafters should instead focus on the strengthening of electoral monitoring bodies.
According to Taweesak Sutkwatin, an NLA member, the NLA members have concluded that vote buying will go on regardless of how good the new electoral system is. Efforts should be redirected to increasing the monitoring power of organizations, such as the Election Commission to better conduct investigations.
Mr Taweesak further revealed that most NLA members agreed that a public referendum should be held and that all proposals were being gathered and would be submitted to the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC). The NLA would hold a final brainstorming seminar between May to Jun in order to compile all input on the new constitution to be submitted to the charter drafters, he said.
Most NLA members are of the opinion that the power of the new Senate under the new constitution is excessive, adding that the members feel that a body that is not entirely elected by the public should have its powers limited, added Mr.Taweesak.
