[Podborodok]

Hi,

I am a foreigner interested politics. I read about the PAD "New politics" but I cannot find out detailed information on how it works.

I understand that they propose some elected officials are elected normally with votes all over the country, while others are voted in by certain groups.

What groups can vote? How many people can these groups elect?

Can anyone explain how they work? Do you know any webpages that explain it in detail (I can only read english).

Many thanks.

[Marinausa]

please read http://www.thai-blogs.com/index.php/...-part-2?blog=8

There will a part 3 of "Interview With The PAD" By Stephen Cleary.

You could post questions here for him to ask the PAD.

[RicardoHun]

Hi,

I am a foreigner interested politics. I read about the PAD "New politics" but I cannot find out detailed information on how it works.

I understand that they propose some elected officials are elected normally with votes all over the country, while others are voted in by certain groups.

What groups can vote? How many people can these groups elect?

Can anyone explain how they work? Do you know any webpages that explain it in detail (I can only read english).

Many thanks.

I think you already know as much as the rest of us. I have also asked Steve to get some details and to ask what is to stop these appointed officials being as corrupt as the politicians they seek to replace.

[dafodilkemmy]

This isn't about fixing government; this is about control of the corrupt government.

[FloareTraurne]

Could anything be more unrepresentative, corrupt, elitist and perhaps fascist as PAD?

[Podborodok]

KhunChin, thank you for the link. Unfortunately I am now more confused

It seems to contradict what I have read elsewhere. That interview says that 70% will be appointed and 30% elected. I read elsewhere that 70% would be elected by special groups of people, for example, a specific profession.

Which is it, does anyone know?

What are the different groups be be able to elect the 70%?

New Zealand has a similar system, although not as extreme. There are 120 Members of Parliament (MPs) in the New Zealand Parliament. Of these 120 seats in parliament, 7 are Maori seats (Maori are the native people of New Zealand) and only Maori can vote for those seats. But a Maori person has to choose every election if they want to vote on the Maori roll or the General roll. They only get one vote.

[dafodilkemmy]

What are the different groups be able to elect the 70%? I think that's the point. The "special group" will have to be those that the PAD think are "smart" enough to vote "properly". Otherwise, we will see this all over again.

The situation, now, is because the PAD thinks the Thai people can't vote properly.

[Trissinas]

KhunChin, thank you for the link. Unfortunately I am now more confused

It seems to contradict what I have read elsewhere. That interview says that 70% will be appointed and 30% elected. I read elsewhere that 70% would be elected by special groups of people, for example, a specific profession.

Which is it, does anyone know?

What are the different groups be be able to elect the 70%?

New Zealand has a similar system, although not as extreme. There are 120 Members of Parliament (MPs) in the New Zealand Parliament. Of these 120 seats in parliament, 7 are Maori seats (Maori are the native people of New Zealand) and only Maori can vote for those seats. But a Maori person has to choose every election if they want to vote on the Maori roll or the General roll. They only get one vote.

After i posted part two of the interview with the PAD guy, he called me back to explain that i had mis-quoted him on the 70% elect thing. He explained that it had only been an idea proposed on the PAD stage, but had not been decided to implement it in any future govt.

I wouldn't therefore, go into too much of a frenzy about this 70% thing as it was only a possible 'idea' (according to him anyway!)

Below is a link to an excellent page on PAD's New Policies:

http://www.prachatai.com/english/pri...ion.php?id=692

[Podborodok]

After i posted part two of the interview with the PAD guy, he called me back to explain that i had mis-quoted him on the 70% elect thing. He explained that it had only been an idea proposed on the PAD stage, but had not been decided to implement it in any future govt.

I wouldn't therefore, go into too much of a frenzy about this 70% thing as it was only a possible 'idea' (according to him anyway!)

Below is a link to an excellent page on PAD's New Policies:

http://www.prachatai.com/english/pri...ion.php?id=692

Yes, I read elsewhere that the "70%" is just a starting point and could be anywhere form 0-100%.

What does "political officeholders" mean? If I read it in a local newspaper I would assume it was talking about civil servants (people who work for the government). In the context of the articles I have read it as meaning Members of Parliament. In the original Thai what does that phrase mean?

The English Wikipedia "Politics of Thailand" page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politic...nt_of_Thailand) says that members of the cabinet do not have to be Members of Parliament. Interesting concept. Does this cause conflict, I can imagine people may not like some people in power who were not elected?