Past Events
Election System and Political Parties in the Constitutional Order – Reflections on the Draft Constitution 2015 in Comparative Perspectives
Agenda
Keynote
Gen. Lertrat Ratanavanich, Advisor and Spokesperson, Constitutional Drafting Committee Thailand
“The new Election System in Thailand According the Draft Constitution 2015”
Panel 1: Political Parties
Assist. Prof. Dr. Prinya Thaewanarumitkul, Vice Rector, Thammasat University
Prof. Dr. Boonsri Mewongukote, Faculty of Law, Thammasat University
Henning Glaser, Director, German-Southeast Asian Center of Excellence for Public Policy and Good Governance (CPG), Faculty of Law, Thammasat University
Panel 2: Election System
Dr. Stithorn Thananithichot, Research and Development Office, King Prajadhipok’s Institute
Dr. Duc Quang Ly, Project Manager, German-Southeast Asian Center of Excellence for Public Policy and Good Governance (CPG), Faculty of Law, Thammasat University
Report
On 22 May 2015, CPG hosted the seminar “Election System and Political Parties in the Constitutional Order – Reflections on the Draft Constitution 2015 in Comparative Perspectives” at the Faculty of Law, Thammasat University. The event provided a platform for exchange and discussion on the issues of election system and political parties as well as on potentials of related adjustments in the Draft Constitution proposed by the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC).
The seminar was opened by a key note speech given by General Lertrat Ratanavanich, Advisor and Spokesperson of the CDC. Gen. Lertrat gave a comprehensive introduction to the ideas and aims of the CDC behind the selection of a mixed-member proportional system along the German model as the new electoral system for Thailand.
The keynote was followed by a presentation of Assist. Prof. Dr. Prinya Thaewanarumitkul, Vice Rector, Thammasat University, at whose initiative the seminar was arranged. He provided a comparative study of Thai as well as international electoral systems with special attention given to the question of electoral thresholds and the set-up of regional party lists. Subsequently Prof. Dr. Boonsri Mewongukote, Faculty of Law, Thammasat University, critically analyzed the current role and function of political parties in Thailand and pointed out the necessity of their reform in terms of democratic internal party structures.
A comparative perspective to the political party system in Thailand was provided by CPG Director Henning Glaser who presented on the role and organization of political parties in Germany. He emphasized their various levels of organization as well as the need for different party streams to be represented on the party lists. Dr. Stithorn Thananithichot, Research and Development Office, King Prajadhipok’s Institute, offered insights into a comparative study of rural and urban voters in Thailand.
Dr. Duc Quang Ly, CPG Project Manager, Faculty of Law, Thammasat University, completed the presentations with insights into main features of the German electoral system, its calculation mechanism as well as contentious issues such as the problem of so-called overhang mandates.
Photos
