Panel backs poll for PM

Panel backs poll for PM

The majority on the political reform committee under the National Reform Council (NRC) agrees the prime minister and the cabinet should be directly elected by the public, instead of by the House of Representatives.

Committee member Alongkorn Ponlaboot said the 27-member panel would finalise its resolution today before submitting the proposal to the scrutinising committee of the NRC.

He said a majority on the panel also backed a parliament with only 350 elected MPs, and dropping party-list MPs. Each electoral constituency would have up to three MPs.

Four committee members have reserved their opinion on the matter.

Meanwhile, a Nida poll out Sunday showed 66% of respondents backed direct elections for prime minister. About 20% disagreed, saying the premier should be chosen by the House of Representatives.

About 9% said the prime minister must be an MP and endorsed by the House; 1.6% said the prime minister could be elected by any means, but he or she must be capable of solving the country's problems and be honest; and 2.1% had no comment.

The poll was conducted last Thursday and Friday among 1,253 people nationwide.

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