Bangkok: Former Deputy Prime Minister Bowornsak Uwanno has voiced his support for constitutional amendments in Thailand, proposing five significant reforms aimed at revitalizing the nation's political landscape. These include altering the Election Commission's electoral management powers, granting citizens impeachment rights, and overhauling the selection process for independent organizations amidst waning public trust.
According to Thai News Agency, Bowornsak shared his insights during a seminar on "The Crisis of Confidence in Independent Organizations: Origins and Solutions." The event was organized by the House of Representatives' Committee on Judiciary, Independent Organizations, the Public Prosecutor's Office, State Enterprises, Public Organizations, and Funds, in collaboration with the King Prajadhipok Institute. Bowornsak highlighted that Thailand's ambition to join the OECD demands addressing 25 critical areas, with corruption being a significant concern. He recounted his experiences during Anutin's first government, where corruption was exposed by police officers but met with governmental silence, demonstrating a lack of urgency in addressing these issues.
Bowornsak revealed an untold story: During the 1991 Constitution era, Dr. Prawes Wasi requested him to draft a constitution, a task he initially hesitated to undertake. However, with the 1997 Constitutional Drafting Assembly, independent organizations were established. The 2007 Constitution further institutionalized bodies like the Attorney General's Office and the National Human Rights Commission. Despite these efforts, research by the King Prajadhipok Institute and the National Statistical Office shows a decline in public trust since 2002 due to unmet expectations.
To address these challenges, Bowornsak proposed a series of reforms. Firstly, he suggested expediting the Cabinet formation process. The current constitution allows for prolonged election timelines, potentially facilitating vote buying. He recommended elections be held 30 days after parliament's dissolution, with a swift certification process to ensure timely government formation.
The second reform involves revising the selection process for independent organizations. Bowornsak proposed using the 2015 draft constitution's provisions, which include a diverse selection committee comprising representatives from various political and judicial bodies. The voting process should involve transparency and public disclosure of results and background checks.
Bowornsak also advocated for reinstating the impeachment system, emphasizing public involvement in impeachment votes for high-ranking officials. He further suggested reforming the Election Commission by transferring electoral management powers to ministerial-level government heads, leaving the Commission to focus on regulatory and prosecutorial duties, as outlined in the 2015 draft.
The final reform proposed by Bowornsak is accepting political groups that aren't traditional political parties, provided they have at least 5,000 members or branches. He stressed the need for comparative studies before drafting constitutional changes.