The incumbent election commissioners look set to lose their jobs under a proposal by the National Legislative Assembly (NLA).
According to the proposal, the five election commissioners, appointed under the 2007 constitution, will vacate their posts when the new law on the Election Commission (EC), organic to the new charter, comes into effect.
However, the change provides for the current EC members to remain in their acting roles until the new batch of election commissioners take office, Lt Gen Phisanupong Phutthawong, spokesman of the NLA committee scrutinising the bill, said.
He added that the new EC members are expected to be chosen within 60 days of the organic law governing the EC being enacted.
The spokesman said that the committee has agreed that the structure of the poll organising body should be "reset" or re-established in accordance with the new constitution and the organic law giving the EC more power.
Therefore, the new qualification requirements for election commissioners will now be more rigid, Lt Gen Phisanupong said, adding that the new EC members are expected to maintain better independence and impartiality.
He also denied the new rules will pave the way for the appointment to the EC of those closer to the regime.
Under the new charter, the EC, which currently has five members, needs seven to organise the next general election.
Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) chairman, Meechai Ruchupan, yesterday praised the NLA panel for altering the bill and said the change does not go against the new constitution.
The new charter clearly stipulates that the way members of independent organisations assume office is determined by organic laws governing those particular bodies, Mr Meechai said.
"The [NLA] panel had the courage to make the change. The CDC itself was concerned if the new election commissioners and the old ones would have problems working together," Mr Meechai said.
Asked if the so-called resetting of the EC structure will set a precedent for the tenure of incumbent members of other independent agencies, Mr Meechai said it depends on the needs and problems facing each agency.
EC member Somchai Srisutthiyakorn criticised the NLA panel's decision to kick out the five current EC members, including himself.
Under the CDC's original version of the bill, certain current EC members could lose their jobs and their place on the new seven-member EC if they do not meet stricter qualification requirements.
But the amended version of the bill would see all five members of the current EC lose their jobs, which would be even worse, Mr Somchai said.
It is irrational that several members of the current EC who have the right qualifications under the new charter are to be unseated, he said.
Former election commissioner Sodsri Sattayatham disagreed with the proposal to get rid of the current EC. It is unfair to those who are still qualified. The current EC should be given a chance to hold the next poll, she said.
She doubted that new commissioners will have enough experience and skills to organise the next general election.
The current EC assumed office on Dec 13, 2013 at the height of the political conflict. Its first job was to hold the general election on Feb 2, 2014 after former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra of the Pheu Thai-led government was forced to dissolve the House of Representatives on Dec 9, 2013 amid mounting pressure from anti-government groups led by the People's Democratic Reform Committee.
However, the Feb 2 election faced disruptions nationwide by the protesters and boycott of the opposition Democrat Party, before the Constitutional Court ruled to nullify the poll.
The existence of the EC and other independent agencies is questionable, critics said. In a peculiar way, the coup d'etat of 2014 abolished the constitution which provides the mandate for these agencies, they added. But an NCPO order keeps the agencies untouched and lets their members stay on in their jobs.
The EC also came under fire from the Pheu Thai-led government when the agency urged the administration to review its decision to call the Feb 2 poll.
Former Pheu Thai MP Amnuay Klangpha said he disagreed with the reset of the EC, saying the current EC should be allowed to hold the next poll.
Nipit Intarasombat, deputy Democrat leader, said the "reset" of the current poll agency will hamper efforts to organise the next poll. A mixture of old and new members should help ensure a smooth poll, he said.