Politicians and political groups appear split over a proposed requirement for political party members to pay an annual membership fee and have urged the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) to review it.
The proposal for political party members to pay the membership fee of 100 baht per year is part of an organic bill on political parties prepared by the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC).
On Friday, the NLA passed two organic draft laws on political parties and the Election Commission on their first reading and set up committees to vet the bills for second and third readings.
According to the CDC, the membership fee is intended to encourage better and more meaningful political participation from party members.
While the fee requirement has sparked an outcry from political parties, it was backed by former street protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, who called for a higher annual membership fee to guarantee adequate funds.
Deputy Democrat Party leader Ongart Khlampaiboon argued that the membership fee requirement is likely to pose an obstacle to recruitment even though he insists the party is ready to adapt itself to the new rules.
Mr Ongart said there are better ways to promote political participation from party members.
He said political participation does not have to be in the form of a subsidy and members can contribute to party development by giving advice or even physical labour.
He pointed out that with several restrictions imposed by the CDC's draft law, it will be more difficult for a political party to find new members. One rule says political party members are not allowed to work in other organisations.
Mr Ongart said the party is ready to give its opinions about the draft organic law to the NLA's ad-hoc committee if it wants more public input in the law-making process.
Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva earlier voiced agreement with the proposed party membership fee, but he noted that making it a legal requirement was likely to create problems.
Mr Abhisit also said the membership fee should be lower than 100 baht.
Mr Suthep, now chairman of the Muan Maha Prachachon Foundation, suggested the proposed annual fee of 100 baht is not enough and will drive political parties to seek funds from other sources.
"The political parties will be dependent on other financial sources who are not members. Those who supply the resources will control the parties and the members' role will be reduced," he said.
He also called for a higher number of members at the time of registration, saying the number of start-up members should be at least 5,000 instead of 500 as demanded by the draft law.
Under the CDC's organic bill, a political party must have at least 500 members and capital of at least 1 million baht at the time of registration.
The bill also requires that the number of members must increase to 5,000 within one year and to 10,000 within four years.
Meanwhile, Pheu Thai's acting deputy secretary-general Chaowalit Wachayasut has voiced disagreement with the CDC's idea that the membership fee will encourage political participation
He said a financial contribution is not tantamount to public participation, which can be in many forms including selection of party candidates and formulation of party policy.
"The CDC chairman doesn't know what political participation is. His idea that paying is encouraging political participation is a fantasy. Political participation isn't about financial subsidy. It's about being involved in a process," he said.
Mr Chaowalit also voiced disagreement over a clause requiring party executives to be held responsible if party members violate the constitution or organic laws.
He said such rules go against the basic principles of law-making and enforcement.