Political groups clause divides

Political groups clause divides

Parties fear provision will undermine them while others welcome change

Draft charter provisions allowing political groups to register and run in elections which charter drafters see as "an innovation" have met with mixed responses from other parties.

In recent months, members of the National Reform Council (NRC), and political parties have spoken out against the draft charter which they said favours political groups and undermines political parties.

Politicians from both the Pheu Thai and Democrat parties argued the conditions set by the draft charter would lead to more political groups emerging and threatening to ruin the political party system.

However, various interest groups have praised the draft charter for allowing political groups to have more representation in the House.

Under the draft charter, poll candidates would not necessarily belong to political parties because political groups would be allowed to register and field candidates.

The draft charter also makes it easier for political groups to be set up.

For example, political groups seeking to register can have a membership of less than 5,000, compared to political parties which are required to have a minimum of at least 5,000 members.

Under the draft charter, political groups seeking registration would not necessarily have branches in all regions of the country, while political parties must have party branches in all regions.

However, political groups must keep to the same rules governing political parties which will appear in the new charter's organic laws. The regulations cover the declaration of donations given to parties and measures to ensure the independence of MPs.

Seree Suwanpanont, chairman of the NRC committee on justice reforms, said the committee will propose the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) delete the term political groups from the draft charter.

"Political groups are already divided. If they are allowed into the House, divisions will be more acute and will lead to divisions among the nation. This will run counter to reconciliation efforts,'' he said.

If the CDC refuses to remove political groups from the draft charter, the draft will be rejected by the NRC, Mr Seree said.

Suriyasai Katasila, a former key member of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), said he did not think political groups, such as the PDRC or the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), are keen to register as formal political groups under the new charter.

He said these groups formed to work towards a particular political agenda. They simply disband when they achieve their aim, Mr Suriyasai said, who is now a lecturer at Rangsit University's College of Social Innovation.

"I'm not sure if the muan maha prachachon [great mass of the people] will come together again if the whistle is blown,'' Mr Suriyasai said.

He also said it is unlikely political groups will register and run in elections because some groups and political parties share the same support base, and they could compete against each other for support from the same voters.

Both the PDRC and the UDD are aligned with political parties, Mr Suriyasai said.

Members of the PDRC are known to have close affiliations with the Democrat Party, while the UDD is known to be closely linked to Pheu Thai.

Mr Suriyasai said there are some interest groups that have the potential to strengthen themselves as political groups and send candidates to run in elections such as the disabled, labour unions and farmers groups — although they may not win enough House seats.

He said he did not think political groups would be able to make any significant political impact because all political groups combined would not amount to 10% of MPs in the House.

Thai Labour Solidarity Committee president Wilaiwan Sae Tia welcomed the charter provision to allow the registration of political groups, saying workers would be able to choose such groups to to represent them in the House.

"It is a good idea to allow representatives from various professional groups to run in elections and give them a chance to push for changes in the House. This will allow poor people to gain a foothold in politics," Ms Wilaiwan said.

CDC spokesman Lertrat Rattanawanich argued that interest and pressure groups can participate more in institutionalised politics through the House, which would prevent them from being influenced and dominated by politicians.

Interest groups will no longer stage street protests to push for their demands, but they can choose their representatives to protect their own interests in the House, he said.

Gen Lertrat insisted that giving political groups a role in the charter will not destroy the political party system.

Political groups will have the opportunity to develop into the political parties of the future, Gen Lertrat said.   

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