Charter debate fires up

       The ruling Democrat Party is in conflict with its coalition partners over the electoral system despite an agreement to only seek amendments to provisions to the constitution seen as "less controversial".
       Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday said a meeting of the two houses of parliament had to be convened to debate the proposals.
       He said the plan to amend the charter would be brought up for discussion at a cabinet meeting tomorrow.
       "The debate on the proposals would give each party a chance to find common ground on how to proceed," Mr Abhisit said.
       He said he had raised the matter with House Speaker Chai Chidchob and he had agreed it was possible to convene a joint session to discuss the proposed constitution amendments.
       A highly placed source in the gov-ernment said many key members of the Democrat Party wanted to keep a key feature of the 2007 constitution,the electoral system featuring multiseat constituencies for MPs, intact.
       But the other member parties of the coalition wanted to revert to a singleseat system. The parties argued that if the multi-member constituencies remained in place, the opposition Puea Thai Party would continue to dominate and make a clean sweep in the Northeast.
       They said the single-seat constituencies system, in which a constituency becomes smaller with just one MP seat contested, would give them a chance to win more seats and defeat Puea Thai in the region.
       The key figures pushing for change are from the Bhumjaithai Party which has high hopes at the next election in the Northeast.
       The source said DeputyPrime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban had convinced Mr Abhisit to agree with the coalition parties on the issue. Mr Suthep reportedly met twice with influential politicians who are de facto leaders of coalition parties such as Banharn Silpa-archa, Newin Chidchob and Somsak Thepsuthin to discuss the proposed amendments.
       The source said coalition parties wanted the electoral system changed as quickly as possible because they were not confident of the political situation in the months ahead. There might be too many political problems and the prime minister might opt to dissolve the House.
       Coalition parties have also agreed to amend Article 190 which requires parliamentary approval for international agreements. The article has been criticised by some politicians for stalling trade contracts.
       But they would stay away from some problematic provisions for the time being.
       One of the most controversial provisions is Article 273, which deals with the dissolution of parties and withdrawal of the election rights of party executives.
       Mr Abhisit said now was the time to continue the work of the parliamentary committee on reconciliation, political reform and constitutional amendment.
       The panel, chaired by Nonthaburi senator Direk Thungfang, came up with proposals after spending 45 days studying amendments.
       He said amendments to the consti-tution were possible as long as the changes would benefit the country and not just serve some vested interests.
       Somsak Prissananantakul, a banned member of the dissolved Chart Thai Party, has confirmed that coalition government parties had agreed with the plan to amend Article 190 and to switch back to the single-seat constituency system.
       Mr Somsak is among de facto leaders of the coalition parties who met at the home of Suwat Liptapanlop, a key leader of the Ruamjaithai Chart Pattana Party, to discuss the charter amendments. Mr Suwat is known to be the de facto leader of a faction inside the Ruamjaithai Chart Pattana.
       Mr Somsak said the leaders had agreed the two provisions were less controversial.
       Puea Pandin secretary-general Chaiyos Jiramethakorn said the party supported the plan to amend Article 190 and the electoral system.
       He said Puea Pandin believed Article 237 was highly controversial and should be put to a referendum.
       Puea Thai deputy leader Plodprasop Suraswadi said it would be better to rewrite the whole constitution.