Bangkok: The Constitutional Amendment Committee has made significant strides in shaping the origins of the committee responsible for drafting the new constitution. The committee, which has received approval from the Election Commission, consists of 100 members who have already submitted their applications. These applications include a detailed outline of their vision and ideology, which will undergo public scrutiny before being forwarded to Parliament for selection. The committee has decided to employ a 20-person, 1-person selection formula to prevent a majority vote from overriding the process. Additionally, Ekporn has proposed a lifetime ban on political involvement for members of the Constitutional Drafting Committee.
According to Thai News Agency, Senator Naraset Prachayakar, spokesperson for the Parliamentary Committee on the Draft Constitutional Amendment, announced the progress of the draft amendment. The committee meeting approved the establishment of a 35-member Constitutional Drafting Committee, which will be selected through public nominations facilitated by the Election Commission. Applicants must secure at least 100 endorsements from the public and submit a one-page document outlining their vision and ideology. Once accepted, applicants' information will be publicly available for review, and the list will be submitted to Parliament for selection.
Mr. Naraset further explained that the parliamentary selection process would follow a "20 picks one" formula. Groups of 20 members of Parliament will nominate one member for the committee. If the full 35-member committee cannot be recruited, groups of 10 members will nominate a list of candidates, twice the number of remaining seats, for the Constitutional Drafting Committee. Parliament will then vote for approval with a requirement of over two-thirds majority. The committee has stipulated that Parliament must complete the selection process within 60 days. However, if at least 33 members are selected, they will be allowed to commence their duties.
The committee discussed the method of grouping parliamentarians under the 20-pick-1 formula. Mr. Naraset highlighted that it would involve a coalition of parliamentarians with shared ideologies, promoting diversity within the constitutional drafting committee.
Addressing concerns about political party influence, Ms. Panida Mongkolsawat, MP for Samut Prakan and spokesperson for the committee, emphasized that the selection process is straightforward and mirrors the proportional representation system. She assured that the public would clearly see that the selected MP candidates represent the people. The process will not only select a prime minister but also members to draft the new constitution.
Regarding potential political influence, Ms. Panida noted that while the Constitutional Court's ruling binds the selection of constitutional drafters to Parliament, the process should best reflect the people's needs. The Bhumjaithai Party's proposed amendment will rely on a majority vote, ensuring that the composition of the drafting committee represents a broad spectrum of ideologies.
Mr. Naraset reassured that even if a party like the People's Party secures 200 seats, the 20-to-1 formula would prevent any single party from dominating the Constitutional Drafting Committee. He emphasized that the committee would remain ideologically diverse and representative of the people. Political parties will communicate their approach to drafting the new constitution during campaigns, ensuring public engagement.
Meanwhile, Ekporn Raksuksuk from the Pheu Thai Party proposed that members of the Constitutional Drafting Committee should abstain from political involvement for life to avoid any vested interests. He confirmed that the committee's work was unanimous, with no conflicts among members from different political parties.