Pattaya - The Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) has approved a proposal to allow political groups to contest elections under both the party list and constituency systems.
Those contesting an election do not need to belong to a political party — as was necessary under the previous constitution.
CDC spokesman Kamnoon Sidhisamarn said the proposal is intended to promote public participation in politics and enable the civic sector to be better represented in parliament.
Bandjerd Singkhaneti, a CDC member, said the proposal is expected to empower groups of people with similar political interests to come together and develop into political parties.
When candidates are required to sign up with a political party to be able to contest an election, they are often weakened and dominated by party financiers, he said.
"We can't write a law to strengthen political parties. They need to be developed from political groups," he said.
According to Mr Banjerd, political groups wanting to contest elections face fewer restrictions than political parties.
For example, they do not need to fulfil membership quotas; they just have to be registered as juristic entities and have political statements, he said.
Political parties have expressed concern about the proposal that would not require election candidates to be members of political parties.
They claim independent candidates will ruin the political party system because they will weaken parties and force them to fade away.
Mr Kamnoon said the CDC has also agreed to include in the new charter a provision requiring all organic laws to be promulgated within a set time frame.
Those who fail to promulgate the laws within the time frame will face dereliction of duty charges under Section 157 of the Criminal Code.
"The CDC has to work on organic laws. But in certain cases, the burden will be on a new government or state agencies. They will be legally required to push for the passage of some legislation," he said.
Under the new charter, Mr Kamnoon said, either the deputy House speaker or deputy Senate speaker will be allowed to serve as parliamentary president if there is no House or Senate speaker to assume the role.
Meanwhile, the CDC this week moved its meeting venue to Pattaya where its members will be drafting sections on the parliamentary and electoral systems.
The proposed adoption of the mixed member proportional representation system and the minimum number of MPs required to convene the House of Representatives after a general election are among some of the details expected to be resolved this week.