Meechai eases fears on PM

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016
|

‘Court ruling doesn’t open path for non-elected premier to rule for 8 years’

CHIEF CONSTITUTION drafter Meechai Ruchupan said yesterday that he did not think a Constitutional Court ruling on Wednesday would pave the way for a non-MP prime minister to be in power for at least eight years.
Meechai said that overall, the ruling would not bring about substantial changes, although he added that he was not in a position to criticise the court’s judgement. Only the participation of the Senate in choosing a prime minister and the time frame for such an extraordinary process could be adopted, he said.
The Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) chairman confirmed that the court ruling on the amendment of the draft constitution did not permit the Senate to propose prime-ministerial candidates.
He said that in a case where the members of the House of Representatives could not agree in choosing a prime minister, support from at least two-thirds of both houses of Parliament would be needed to request a waiver of the PM lists submitted by political parties. 
Consequently, PM candidates could come from inside or outside the lower House.
Meechai said he did not know whether this controversial role of the Senate would prompt further political problems. But he said he believed whoever were in the House would prioritise the national interest and follow the lead. 
After a new constitution is adopted, there will not be a power vacuum, the chief drafter said. 
“There will always be an exit. Although the lists could be waived, it does not mean only an outsider could take the post. They can still select one from the lists if they want,” Meechai said.
He also clarified that the court said the suspension of the PM list by agreement of the two houses of Parliament could be done any time during the first five years after the first batch of parliamentarians took office.
“Whenever a PM resigns from his post or whenever the House is dissolved, the election of a new prime minister will be conducted in a joint Parliament meeting,” he said, referring to the latest Constitutional Court’s ruling. 
The chief drafter conceded that the ruling exceeded the CDC’s request sent earlier this month. However, it was still within the realm of the matter of the referendum’s additional question, though the Court had a different interpretation, he said.
 
Final judgement
Since the Constitutional Court is the supreme agency that could give a verdict on the matter, it was the final judgement, Meechai added. 
The CDC will revise the charter, using the same wording as suggested by the court, he said.
But if time allows, Meechai said the CDC might arrange a meeting with the court. Some members of the CDC felt that the court went beyond the request, and they would like to submit an inquiry to the court for clarification of its ruling.
Meanwhile, National Legislative Assembly vice chairman Surachai Liengboonlertchai yesterday said he did not think the court ruling would make it easy for an “outsider” to become prime minister.
Rather, he said it would have the opposite effect, and suggested that MPs and senators would have to work together closely and discuss the matter.
Surachai, formerly a deputy Speaker of the Senate, called on all parties involved to accept the court ruling and move on.
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said yesterday that it was possible a new constitution revised with recommendations based on the court’s ruling would allow an outsider to become prime minister for as long as eight years.
“That is possible if that person is tolerant and tough enough,” he said, adding that the person also would need to gain support from at least half of the parliamentarians from both Houses combined.