Thailand Politics
Thailand’s Leading Political Parties Vow to Rewrite Junta’s Charter After Elections
BANGKOK – Thailand’s Junta sponsored charter, which imposes curbs on politicians, and stacks the Senate with Military appointments remains the prime target of big political parties who aim to replace it after the election even though it was endorsed in a 2016 national referendum, judging by the comments made at a symposium attended by prominent politicians yesterday.
Representatives from three political parties vying for power in Thailand’s proposed elections have put forward their plan to amend the current junta-sponsored 2017 constitution after the general election is held, the Bangkok Post reported this morning.
Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit and Chaturon Chaisang, a senior member of the Pheu Thai Party, Thursday agreed at a forum that changing the whole charter is a top priority for their parties after the poll, according to the paper.
Former Democrat Party prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, former Pheu Thai Party minister Chaturon Chaisang, prominent newcomer and head of Future Forward Party Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, and pro-junta politician and head of People’s Reform Party Paiboon Nititawan were the speakers. – Nation Photo
“The whole 2017 constitution should be scrapped as it is undemocratic and passed by a referendum that lacked transparency,” Mr Chaturon was quoted as saying.
Mr Chaturon told Thai PBS the national strategy will impose additional burdens on future governments as they will be required to comply with the new law.
“If politicians in the future governments do not follow the junta’s 20-year national strategy, they could be sacked from their positions or even end up in jail, which is unfair,” he said, the Bangkok Post reported.
Mr Thanathorn said the only way to successfully amend the charter is to raise awareness and gain people’s acceptance to change it.
