There must be an alternative method of selecting MP candidates in place if primaries are to be suspended, Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, says.
The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has been urged by some politicians to exercise the special Section 44 power to put the primaries on hold ahead of the next general election tentatively set for February. Critics argue they present too much hassle for poll preparations.
Mr Abhisit said if primary voting was to be set aside, a similar system must be introduced in its place to ensure public participation in parties' choice of MP candidates.
He reiterated that the NCPO does not have to wait until the organic bill on the election of MPs takes effect within three months of its publication in the Royal Gazette to lift its ban on political activities. Time is of the essence as political parties rush to get themselves ready for the election. There are many steps to organising primaries and the earlier they can start, the less pressure there will be on the parties.
Mr Abhisit said relaxing the political activities ban would allow parties to open constituency branches quickly. Also, the designation of constituencies by the Election Commission could proceed in parallel, which would save time.
If the steps could be followed through promptly, there would be no impact on the timing of the coronation ceremony of His Majesty the King. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said the coronation is expected to be held before the general election in February.
Mr Abhisit said primaries were an idea thought up and decreed by the National Legislative Assembly. It was the answer to the constitution's stipulation that choosing MP candidates must involve public participation.
Constitution Drafting Committee chairman Meechai Ruchupan said Tuesday public participation must not be ignored in MP candidate selection.
The conditions which political parties must meet in organising the primaries have already been eased through the NCPO's amendment of the organic bill on political parties. The primaries are the responsibility of individual parties as contained in the political parties bill.
Mr Meechai explained the amendment allows the primaries to be conducted in each province instead of every constituency, which would create a great burden on the parties. He warned that Section 44 should be invoked only as was necessary to resolve any technical problem from the primary vote.
It was crucial to give people a say in key decisions the parties make, including picking MP candidates.
"It would be a pity if the [primaries] were to be cancelled," Mr Meechai said.
Meanwhile, Samart Kaewmeechai, a former Pheu Thai MP for Chiang Rai, said the NCPO should lift the political activities ban completely because doing it progressively would only cause practical problems in organising poll preparations.
Also Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam clarified that the 150-day time frame related to the general election refers to the period in which the election must be carried out and completed. It does not include the 60-day period for the Election Commission to verify and formally announce the poll results.
