2-ballot system challenged

2-ballot system challenged

The acting leader of the Thai Pakdee Party, Warong Dechgitvigrom, has launched a bid to challenge the latest charter amendment to restore the two-ballot system in the Constitutional Court.

Dr Warong yesterday formally petitioned the court via the ombudsman, saying the two-ballot election totally disregards minority voters.

The amendment, which passed parliament early this month, is being submitted for royal endorsement.

Dr Warong also accused parliamentarians of amending more sections in the charter than formally sought. They initially requested changes to two sections pertaining to elections but ended up rewriting three.

He added the system of two ballots, one cast for constituency candidates and the other for a political party would work in the interest of large political parties as it panders to the winner-takes-all principle.

The votes for defeated constituency candidates would be discarded whereas the current single-ballot method is rooted in the one-man-one-vote concept where every vote, even that cast for losing candidates, are counted toward a party's list pool. Dr Warong also alleged the parliament rushed the amendment and neglected to gauge public input.

The two ballots are also criticised for not being conducive to the representation of small parties in parliament.

"We are entitled to seeking the Constitutional Court's help if we feel our rights are curtailed," Dr Warong said.

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