Ban on party executives opposed
Politicians are opposed to Constitution Drafting Committee deputy chairman Charan Pakdithanakul's proposal to add a constitutional clause prohibiting executives of dissolved parties from running in elections for five years.
However, Charan said the proposal was aimed at preventing politicians buying votes.Thai Rak Thai Party acting leader Chaturon Chaisang said Charan's proposal came at the wrong time and might be biased. The idea showed that those currently in power wanted to eradicate those who once held power. Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said the announcement by the Council for National Security had already revoked the voting rights of executives of dissolved parties for five years. Therefore, the new charter drafters must clarify if they would add this condition in the new constitution. Democrat chief adviser Chuan Leekpai said the drafters should not try too hard to hinder politicians as a whole but should take moves to eliminate the bad ones instead. Parties that allow their MP candidates to buy votes or cheat in elections should be liable to dissolution, as ordered by the Constitution Court, said Charan. He said the proposal had nothing to do with the Constitution Tribunal's ruling on alleged election fraud by the Thai Rak Thai and Democrat parties scheduled for May 30. Kesinee Jaikawang, Sathien Viriyapanpongsa The Nation
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