The law article process is currently underway, but many people are unsure whether it will actually serve the public interest or if the Pheu Thai-led government is using it as a ruse to maintain its position of power.
The coalition government lists the proposal to amend the military-sponsored 2017 Constitution, which was one of the ruling group’s election pledges, as a top priority.
Veteran Pheu Thai Phumtham Wechayachai, the deputy prime minister, is tasked with leading a government-appointed panel to examine creating ratifications for policy amendment.
A 2021 Constitutional Court decision requiring people approval of any proposal to amend the whole contract makes the referendum a contentious issue. Another election may be held in order to review the information if a modify is approved.
A plan to keep three referendums to amend the contract was recently approved by Mr. Phumtham’s panel, which also decided that the first referendum would only ask one question.
With the exception of Pages 1 and 2, which deal with common procedures and the King, the problem will be whether or not voters support the plan to amend the constitution.
The government will attempt to alter Part 256 of the existing constitution to permit the formation of a new council, whose structure will be decided in if the House of Representatives and the Senate hold mutual session. If the first referendum is approved by the people, this will happen.
The government will receive the commission’s decision this month or not later than the first third of this year.
Decorative adjustments
The plan to modify the charter, according to Sriyakul Thanaporn, chairman of Kasetsart University’s Political Science Association, is more about appearance than it is about actually making significant changes.
The proposed changes might include more right on paper, but because of current energy structures, they might not be fully realized in exercise. In fact, supervisory and administrative regulations control how things are done.
He cited the government’s proposal to revive the idea of turning governors into chief executive officers ( CEO ) of their respective provinces as evidence that the much-desired decentralization of power is unlikely to happen.
He claimed that the “CEO- chancellor” type, which is comparable to the one put forth in 2003 under the leadership of the now-dissolved Thai Rak Thai Party, is the antithesis of decentralization.
He said, citing the legendary “family Senate” as an example of how the 1997 contract was used in a power capture, that the ruling party is likely to use the charter act to strengthen its strength rather than reduce the rights of political business holders.
When legislators were directly elected rather than appointed, families and community members of Members ran for the Upper House in the Senate known as the “family Senate.”
Because it can be used against its democratic rivals, the career social restrictions is probably going to stay in place. I hazard a guess that the justice system wo n’t be affected, and the party would rather look into ways to use it to further its political objectives, he said.
However, he said that the remaining coup-makers ‘ policies, such as the 20-year national strategy and the Senate’s power to carry out nationwide reforms and impeach members of people independent companies, may be targeted.
He said the ruling party must maintain the status quo in order to achieve its political objectives, ruling out the possibility of significant governmental measures being implemented.
According to the analyst, there wo n’t be any significant military changes, not even the abolition of conscription, but there might be some superficial ones, like giving soldiers more rights under the charter.
” Do n’t anticipate the charter amendment to result in significant changes. To put an end to the Move Forward Party, they might perhaps reintroduce the use of the one-ballot program, he said.
Sriyakul Thanaporn
a slower and drawn-out procedure
Mr. Thanaporn predicted that the update process would take as long as it required and the public would have to wait until the end of the president’s term to see a result because voters typically anticipate votes soon after completing sacraments.
In other words, the government’s four-year name will be completed thanks to the charter revision.
He remarked that no one would jump a procedure that might result in the guard being changed.
Due to a lack of options, the scientist claimed he was unable to see any change in the political landscape.
The traditional camp’s candidates for prime minister are not welcomed, and the MFP leader has been turned down.
He said,” What we’re seeing is a strategy to keep the current energy structure in place for four times.”
The contract creating assembly should be chosen directly, according to Mr. Thanaporn. Also legal experts should be chosen through votes, not through a limit or an offer, he said.
He emphasized that the drafters should be free to carry out their work and that there should n’t be any “restrictions” regarding which parts of the charter should not be revised when charter writers are fully elected.
Social science lecturer Thinbangtieo, Olarn of Burapha University predicted that the charter rewrite process would probably encounter difficulties because there had been no conclusive outcome after 100 days of work.
Political parties disagree widely, especially when the major opposition MFP is adamant that the whole contract, including Pages 1 and 2, should be changed.
In order to conduct a thorough investigation, the election board is set up. The procedure might be pointless in the end, he said.
The primary opposition party may push for a complete update, including Pages 1 and 2, which is expected to cause tension between the government and them, according to Mr. Olarn.
Among the first changes made to the mandate article will be the election techniques of MPs and lawmakers, their roles and powers, and common independent organizations like the Election Commission.
Public attention of the country’s use of strength, decentralization of authority, and freedom of expression are also anticipated to take center stage, he said.
However, he noted that because the government depends on technocrats and the military, governmental reforms are probably on the table.
According to Mr. Olarn, the process of rewriting the charter is difficult and controversial because a referendum is necessary and an assembly for charter drafting is established.
The policy act process is likely to shop if the government and the opposition are not on the same page and come to an understanding, he said.
” I believe the procedure will continue until almost the conclusion of the government’s expression. It’s unclear whether the document will be finished, he said.
Thinbangtieo, Olarn