MFP reveals 100-day roadmap

The Move Forward Party (MFP) yesterday revealed a roadmap for its first 100 days in office, believing it will form the next government and make good on its 300-point campaign promises.

MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat outlined policy priorities for implementation within that time frame. He added those not among priority policies would be progressively implemented within the first year of government.

Mr Pita promised within the first 100 days in office, the party would exercise its power as the executive branch to push for a referendum to be held that would pave the way for the constitution to be rewritten by a drafting assembly made up of elected members.

He said the party would propose the cabinet to immediately seek an immediate resumption of the deliberation of the contentious Marriage Equality Bill currently put on the back burner.

The pending legal cases of a political nature will be reviewed, while an amnesty law will be put forth to absolve those being prosecuted or who had been prosecuted in such cases.

In addition, new rules and ministerial regulations will be issued, while some existing ones will be abolished to reform the entire bureaucratic system for transparency reasons. Specifically, many regulations enforced by the Interior Ministry deemed to hold back the progress of local administrative organisations and keep them from achieving administrative independence will be cancelled.

Other priority tasks include pushing for enacting the party’s progressive liquor bill, which was shot down in its second and third readings in the House last year. The bill sought to amend the Excise Tax Act, with supporters claiming it would break the monopoly held by a few corporate distillers and allow small-scale producers to enter the market.

Mr Pita added the urgent policies would extend to the distribution of title deeds covering 6.5 million rai of land to people in the cooperatives and self-established settlements.

Also, the party will introduce “net metering”, an electric billing tool that uses the electric grid to “store” excess energy produced by a home solar panel system. Under the policy, energy produced by household solar panels left unused will be credited back to the household.

The party leader said the MFP has prepared 45 draft laws to be put to the parliament if and when it gets to work as the government.

Mr Pita said the party stands ready to pass the legislation to scrap military conscription and replace it with voluntary enlistment. He added that the MFP would also revive the criminal cases related to the crackdowns on the red-shirt protests in 2010.