PUBLISHED: 21 Nov 2024 at 12: 09
As the House-Senate committee on referendums thrash out its differences regarding the size of the majority needed to pass a charter referendum, a United Thai Nation ( UTN) list-MP yesterday advocated for a middle ground.
Witthaya Kaewparadai, a fellow member of the mutual board, said he concurred that at least quarter of eligible voters must first conduct a referendum in order for it to be regarded as a vote.
” A referendum is important and the number of participants must be large enough, which by international standards, is ]at least ] half]the eligible voters ]. For instance, if there are 42 million eligible citizens, 21 million may participate, and the majority of citizens must support the candidate who wins.
” If the number of participants is small, for example if there are 60 million people and only five million take part in a referendum, I do n’t think that’s a referendum, “he said.
Mr Witthaya appeared to honour a” one and a half “majority law proposed by Chartthaipattana part Nikorn Chamnong, the director of the House-Senate election commission, to break the deadlock.
The “one and a half” lot concept may require that, regardless of the number of votes cast, the majority of the voters may help it for a referendum to be passed.
The Referendum Act, which specifies two circumstances before a referendum result may be deemed bound, should be preserved by the Senate.
These are that second, more than 50 % of eligible voters may attend, and second, at least 50 % those who cast votes may approve it. If half of the electorate votes in favor of a simple lot, the House supports it. Additionally, some Members favored eliminating the requirement that at least 50 % of eligible voters cast ballots in the election.
If members ca n’t agree on the size of the majority, according to Mr. Witthaya, the joint committee will likely vote to determine the outcome.