Published on January 13, 2006

More than half of Thailand’s 500 MPs and 200 senators have a master’s or doctorate degree, an opposition MP said yesterday.

Democrat Kriangsak Charoen-wongsak trumpeted the education credentials of lawmakers, in a rebuttal of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s claim that Parliament was incapable of scrutinising the Thai-US free-trade agreement.

Of the 500 MPs and 200 senators, 53 (7.5 per cent) have doctorate degrees and 337 (48 per cent) have master’s degrees, Kriangsak said.

“Prime Minister Thaksin should not be allowed to get away with his derogatory remark against the intellect of MPs and senators.”

Parliament was full of professionals with diverse backgrounds and knowledge of all aspects of public policy, he said. Lawmakers had proven track records and broader views than the bureaucrats appointed to the government panel in charge of trade negotiations, he said.

Kriangsak urged the government to agree to a parliamentary debate on the matter.

He also suggested civic groups launch a signature campaign to endorse a “people’s draft bill” on free trade, which could be submitted to the House as an alternative to the government version.

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