CDA votes to select PM from MPs
Social activists led by Sulak Sivaraksa and Dr Banthorn On-dam commemorate the 75th anniversary of the 1932 Revolution that saw Siam become a constitutional monarchy. Candles lit a plaque of People’s Party leader Phraya Phahol’s declaration.
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After a tense debate, the Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) yesterday voted by a strong majority to have the draft constitution state that the prime minister must be selected from members of Parliament and have a term in power limited to eight years.
The CDA members voted 73 to 4, ending a nine-month dispute since the coup last September about whether "outsiders" should be allowed to hold the position.
However, in an attempt to lay the ghost of the Thaksin era of strong and unaccountable premiership, the draft charter stipulated that the PM must not stay in power beyond eight years.
CDA member Sriracha Charoenpanit moved to amend Article 167 of the first draft that stipulated the premier should be an MP. He said it was important to prevent the country from running into a political impasse as happened when there were calls for a royally appointed PM during the Thaksin government. Since the provision setting up a national crisis panel had been removed, a new mechanism should be allowed for an outsider to be appointed PM, he argued.
"Do not be afraid of public sentiment or sensational media headlines about outsider PMs. Be practical because otherwise the country will meet a political dead-end and another coup is inevitable,"' Sriracha said.
Pakorn Preeyakorn, spokesman for the CDA's committee to draft the charter, dismissed the reasons cited by Sriracha and said that having an elected PM had nothing to do with the September 19 coup.
"The public hearings show a clear mandate that the public wants only an elected PM. There are always moves to tear up the constitution, whether we have an elected PM or not," he said.
Somkiat Rodcharoen supported the move to have an outsider PM on the grounds that it was sensible in a system with only four political parties.
Sawing Tanud disapproved and said if the CDA decided to allow an outsider PM, it would face mass rallies to campaign against the new constitution.
Charat Suwanmala said that no matter how good and competent non-elected PMs were, they would not have legitimacy because they were not linked with the people. "It is like a forced marriage," he said.
Chirmsak Pinthong said he supported a non-elected PM but to prevent public opposition, lawmakers should include a transitory provision that for the first nine years after the constitution takes effect, the premier must be elected.
Nerisa Nerykhiew
The Nation
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