Two prominent members of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) yesterday asked the Council for National Security (CNS) to ensure the post-coup charter would not permit a non-elected prime minister.

NLA political-reform committee chairman Noranit Setabutr said the country would face

chaos if such a situation were allowed.

"We'll be in trouble if the new constitution does not require the prime minister to be elected," said the former Thammasat University rector.

Noranit told the seminar "Thailand's New Leap Forward: What's the Reform Agenda?" that as democracy was a way of life any political reforms should be aimed at citizens.

"Citizens are always around, but politicians are around or in power just for a certain time. As a result, citizens must be up to date and informed as far as their politicians are concerned.

"The whole education process must start when our people are still very young," he said.

NLA member Dr Chai-anan Samudavanija said the CNS should not send signals that would lead the charter-drafting body to consider allowing a non-elected prime minister after the CNS surrenders power late next year.

"Future prime ministers should all come from the ballot box, but I suspect there may be an attempt to open the way for a non-elected prime minister.

"If the new charter states that any member of Parliament can be nominated as prime minister, our next leader could be non-elected," he said.

Chai-anan's suspicion is based on a proposal to replace an elected Senate with a nominated one.

Proponents argue that at least half of the 200-member Senate should be nominated by respected academic and other institutions.

They claim previous Senate elections show it is not possible to have a non-partisan Senate via an election.

"I guess drafters of the new charter could get around this by just requiring future prime ministers to be Members of Parliament," he said.

Chai-anan warned there would be a public backlash if the new constitution allowed non-elected prime ministers.

He alleged that in previous elections for the Senate many provincial governors appointed by the government had influenced results.