New Senate plan 'blocks undue control'

New Senate plan 'blocks undue control'

The Constitution Drafting Committee has defended its proposal to shake up the composition of the Senate, saying the new plan will ensure the upper house is not "bossed around". 

CDC spokesman Gen Lertrat Rattanawanich said yesterday the Senate would represent diverse groups of people under proposals for the new constitution. This will prevent it from being influenced and dominated by any particular group, he said.

Gen Lertrat said the CDC will begin drafting sections of the new constitution from Jan 12. The media will be allowed to attend charter drafters' discussions, but deliberation of sensitive issues would be held behind closed doors, he said.

The CDC has concluded there should be no more than 200 senators, who would be selected from five groups of people.

These groups are former members of the executive, judiciary and legislature; former high-ranking state officials such as military leaders and permanent secretaries; heads of legally-registered professional organisations such as the Thai Chamber of Commerce; people's organisations such as labour unions or cooperatives; and other bodies, such as trade associations.

Senators from the first four groups will be selected from among themselves, while those from the fifth will be nominated by professional groups for the public to endorse. Senatorial tenures are yet to be decided. 

The CDC also agreed the Senate will be able to propose bills for the House of Representatives to consider, but the bills will likely be limited to reform measures. Senators will also be required to review cabinet nominees before they are royally endorsed.

Kamnoon Sidhisamarn, another CDC spokesman, said the Senate would not be elected directly by voters under the new charter. But efforts would be made to include the public in the selection process, he said. Impeachment actions would require a joint sitting of the Senate and House of Representatives.

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