Pheu Thai says no plan to scrap electoral system

Pheu Thai says no plan to scrap electoral system
On May 14, 2023, people in a polling place in Bang Kapi area will be able to cast ballots in bathrooms. ( Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)

The party-list electoral system is being removed as part of a strategy to defeat the increasingly well-liked Move Forward Party ( MFP ) in the upcoming election, according to the ruling Pheu Thai Party.

Noppadon Pattama, an MP for the Pheu Thai list, claimed he had not heard of such a strategy and that the party had previously discussed it.

The total number of MPs elected in the constituencies would become 500, according to Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, who claimed on Friday that she was informed by a member of Pheu Thai that the group’s policy article proposals would include the removal of the party-list program while preserving the district approach of election. According to Khunying Sudarat, who quoted a Pheu Thai resource, this is a part of the strategy being developed to defeat the MFP in the upcoming vote.

According to a March opinion poll conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration ( Nida ), the MFP is becoming more popular. Pita Limjaroenrat, the chief adviser to the MFP, was chosen by 42.75 % of respondents, up from 39.4 % in the previous poll, making her the most likely choice. He was ahead of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin from Pheu Thai, who was endorsed by 17.75 % of survey respondents, down from 22.35 % in a December poll.

” I am surprised by this speculation. The party’s ability to simply consider section-by-section charter amendments to remove the party-list system is improbable. Past foreign affairs minister Noppadon, a member of the party, said the group is now focusing on creating a contract draft assembly to create a new constitution.

Additionally, he added that any amendment to the party-list system would face fierce opposition from the custodian legislators and the opposition’s members.

” Do n’t waste time discussing it. Such a plan always existed”, he said.

The rumor was disproven by Nikorn Chamnong, the party’s producer and minister to a council studying the contract referendum, who claimed the current systems are appropriate.

The MFP won the most seats in the public vote last month, with 151 MPs– 112 from constituencies and 39 from the group list, while Pheu Thai won 141 House seats– 112 from constituencies and 29 from the party list.

In the gathering- record race, the MFP grabbed more than 14 million seats, winning in almost all of the country’s 77 regions.