Former PM:Direct election of Thai PM isn't the right solution

BANGKOK, December 10 (TNA) - Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva , who is a former Thai prime minister, says that the proposed direct election of Cabinet ministers, including the prime minister, may be problematic, urging concerned authorities to, therefore, review the idea aired recently by a political reform sub-committee. Abhisit told journalists on Wednesday that the sub-committee has a good intention, but the idea is feared to lead the country back to the root cause of old problems, pointing out that national problems have resulted from abuse of power by the administration. Abhisit explained that the direct election may increase problems because different parties may claim they have public support and deserve power, while checks and accountabilities of the administration may decline, expressing his hope that the National Reform Council (NRC) and the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) will listen to opinions and review the idea. The former Democrat prime minister also opined that there are both pros and cons of the German electoral system, acknowledging its good side is that every vote for representatives is meaningful, but its weak side is its complicated nature which needs efforts to understand, especially with the number of representatives that varies and depends on the amount of population and voters’ turnout. The Democrat Party leader vowed, however, that his party is ready to join the next general election if its rules are fair no matter what the draft Constitution will be. (TNA)