Nakarin Mektrairat Highlights Senate Selection Flaws
Former Constitutional Court President Nakarin Mektrairat reveals flaws in the 2060 constitution, low public trust in the EC, and Senate system regrets.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Nakarin Mektrairat delivers a lecture on Thai politics and society, citing regrets from the 2017 constitution drafting committee chair over the Senate selection system.
- Points out ongoing legal issues and uncertainties in recruiting independent organization members.
- Notes that public trust in the Election Commission (EC) remains at a relatively low level.
- Describes the Senate's legitimacy as low due to an unprecedented self-election mechanism.
Nakarin Mektrairat, former President of the Constitutional Court, delivered a special lecture on the future of Thai politics and society during an academic seminar organized by National Defence Studies Institute students. The lecture covered key dimensions including the recruitment of independent organization members, constitutional amendments, and the status of political institutions.
Regarding the selection of individuals for independent organizations, Nakarin pointed out that the recruitment process has shifted over time, marked by ambiguity, uncertainty, and multiple legal challenges. Meanwhile, on the referendum for a new constitution, despite securing a majority vote, practical and political obstacles remain regarding how the process will lead to a newly drafted charter.
This editorial reflects academic perspectives and expert critiques concerning the power structures and mechanisms under the 2017 Constitution, designed amid political transition. The ongoing questions regarding the legitimacy of institutions and independent agencies remain a critical national challenge for restoring public trust and governance.
The former Constitutional Court President further highlighted public confidence in political institutions, noting that both the constitution and political bodies rank relatively low in terms of public acceptance and trust, particularly the Election Commission (EC), which suffers from low public confidence.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Furthermore, the exercise of power by the Senate possesses low legitimacy, stemming directly from the cross-election system—an entirely novel mechanism conceived internally without prior precedent.
"Regretted the most about something that I don't know what to do with. It is the drafting committee's biggest mistake regarding the Senate selection system. Having made it this way, we just have to accept the fate."
Chairman of the 2017 Constitution Drafting Committee (cited by Nakarin Mektrairat)
A focal point of the lecture was the origin of the Senate. Nakarin elaborated that he knew the chairman of the 2017 constitution drafting committee, who expressed deep regret and considered the Senate selection system to be the drafting committee's greatest mistake, leaving them to bear the consequences of their design. This comes as the EC's performance and the 2024 Senate elections have erupted into high-profile political scandals closely monitored by all sectors.
Source: Khaosod Politics
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