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Published on December 11, 2007

Lecturer Paisit Panitchakul opposed the 2007 Constitution during a seminar entitled, "The Thai Constitution after the Election: No Light at the End of the Tunnel".

Chulalongkorn University lecturer Suthachai Yimprasert said the December 23 election is not the answer to the political problems facing the country. No party leader will be a guiding light for the people to pin their hopes on. The September coup did not help improve the country's political condition or bridge the national rift created by the Thaksin administration.

The university issued a three-point demand calling for complete democracy. First, amend the 2007 Constitution after the election; second, review laws that aim to increase the power of the military, such as the Internal Security Act; and third, support a welfare state policy through fiscal policies such as imposing a progressive tax and increasing land and inheritance taxes.

People Power Party leader Samak Sundaravej supported the move to amend the Constitution, saying its biggest flaw was that it systematically weakened the government's power.

"The 1997 Constitution had the best intention to create a strong government that could deliver on policies promised to the people, but this Constitution does the opposite," he said.

The Constitution reduces the number of senators from 200 to 150, with only 76 of them coming from the election and 74 being appointed.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said the Democrats would agree to amend the Constitution on the senator issue because this law allows both elected and appointed senators, which does not conform to democratic principles.

The Nation