Seminar questions EC's methods

Seminar questions EC's methods

Election results endorsed by the Election Commission (EC) which have paved the way for the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) to form a newly elected coalition government and install Gen Prayut as the country's prime minister paints a bleak picture for the future of Thai politics, a seminar was told yesterday.

Pichai Rattanadilok Na Phuket, a political science lecturer at the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida), said the civic group foresees a dark future for Thai politics after the EC announced results of the 149 party-list MPs on Wednesday in which 11 small parties were able to win at least one seat.

''The EC has undermined the legitimacy of the election. Its calculation method has raised eyebrows because parties that won fewer than 71,000 votes still received seats. Where is the benchmark? It is blatantly unfair for parties that meet the standard," Mr Pichai said at the seminar held at the 14th October Memorial yesterday to mark the 27th anniversary of Black May 1992 protests.

He added this situation may lead to fragility in parliament which will further exacerbate splits in Thai politics. Mr Pichai also questioned the reliability of junta-appointed senators whose primary role is to keep an eye on the government.

"Most of them are either friends or relatives. How can we be sure that they are working in the public's interest? Should they exist in the first place?" he said.

Meanwhile, Jatuporn Prompan, chairman of the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), said Thai politics cannot be changed because the election has been designed to support Gen Prayut's return to the premiership again.

"However, this election will be a lesson for all Thais. In the parliamentary system, he [Gen Prayut] will face stronger opposition because he will no longer have Section 44 to issue orders," he said.

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