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Thailand elections delayed as draft constitution is rejected Thailand elections delayed as draft constitution is rejected
(about 2 hours later)
Thailand’s military-backed legislature has rejected a draft of a new constitution, delaying a return to democracy following a coup in 2014. An army-backed council appointed by Thailand’s own military rulers has rejected a controversial draft constitution, further delaying elections and extending the rule of generals who took power in a coup in 2014.
The junta-picked drafters had hoped the charter would move the country past almost a decade of political conflicts, but it was met with strong opposition on almost all sides of politics. The junta has hand-picked drafters, known as the National Reform Council, to write the new constitution. It included a contentious provision that created a 23-member panel, including military and police figures, who would be empowered in times of “national crisis” to take over from parliament and the prime minister.
One of the most contentious provisions included a 23-member panel, with military members, that would be empowered to take over from the parliament and prime minister in times of “national crisis”. Critics of the draft constitution said this clause gave the panel, named the National Strategic Reform and Reconciliation Committee, the ability to stage a legal coup at any time.
Almost all parties criticised it, and the draft risked being voted down in a referendum, further complicating a transition to electoral democracy for Thailand. The National Reform Council voted 135 against, 105 in favour and seven abstentions. It was met with strong opposition across the political divide in the south-east Asian nation.
The rejection sets back a tentative plan for a return to democracy, with the military retaining substantial powers until a new constitution is drafted. If approved the constitution would have further entrenched the military’s grip and weakened political parties. But a rejection has also entrenched the junta leaders in office for many more months while a new draft is written.
Observers say elections will now not be held until at least 2017 while a new charter is written and approved. The rejected draft had said elections could take place in late 2016.
The drafting processes will start again, with the junta picking a new 21-member committee.
The government has a month to appoint the new committee which will have 180 days to draft a constitution. That will go to a referendum three months later, according to a timeframe of the process outlined by the junta.
Thailand’s rulers, who toppled the government of Yingluck Shinawatra in a coup in May 2014, have stifled the media and banned political gatherings. They have promised to bring stability to a country that suffered months of bloody protests in 2014.
The draft appeared aimed at halting any comeback for popular former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck’s brother, who was also deposed in 2006. He was accused of corruption and disrespect of the revered monarchy.
The draft would have allowed non-MPs to become prime minister, leading some to speculate it could give Prayuth Chan-ocha, the current military-backed prime minister, to extend his term.
It would have also allowed politicians to be impeached through a simple majority vote in parliament and ban them from politics for life.
The Puea Thai party was one of the most ardent critics of the draft. In a statement, it said the constitution would “allow a dictatorial regime to continue to suppress people without checks and balances”.