Sombat backs directly-elected premier

Sombat backs directly-elected premier

A leading member of the National Reform Council has thrown his support behind the direct election of the prime minister and the cabinet, saying it would solve the patronage problem between MPs and potential candidates.

Sombat Thamrongthandyawong

Sombat Thamrongthandyawong, who heads the political reform committee, on Sunday said most committee members believe the current system which calls for the public to pick MPs and the MPs to select a prime minister was flawed. They believe it should be changed.

The panel members will meet on Monday to vote on a proposal for the direct election of a prime minister.

Mr Sombat said under the current system, a good prime minister could certainly be selected, but only if MPs held to high standards of integrity and honesty.

But if vote buying is rampant in an election, then the prime minister is generally chosen on his ability to “take care of and patronise” those MPs who had forked out large sums of money to buy their way into parliament.

He also said a single-party government with a majority in the House of Representatives could influence administrative and legislative powers and weaken the checks-and-balance system. It would be able to win every no-confidence debate and allow room for corrupt politicians to take office.

The former rector of the National Institute of Development Administration said most political reform committee members believe a prime minister directly elected by the people could solve such problems because cabinet members would not need MPs to stay in power for a second term.  

Direct election would also allow the people to know in advance the background and work performance of candidates for prime minister and cabinet, which would help to prevent the appointment of influential investors, power brokers or owners of illegal businesses in return for favours, he added.

Ex-Democrat MP Sathit Wongnongtoey, a key member of the People's Democratic Reform Committee, said direct election of the PM and the cabinet would not work unless the problems of vote buying and ballot rigging were wiped out completely.

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