Prawase said society had to admit that politicians - who are elected to represent the people - create problems.

"They neither have the knowledge nor the competency. They are only interested in making connections in order to get into the House. It is more suitable to call them election winners,'' he said.

MPs or politicians should not be empowered to be executives. "Their role should be limited to writing policies.''

Prawase said the new constitution should reduce the number of MPs in each province to the basic necessity. The structure of power should be increased from the three branches of government. The House and law courts should have at least five to six branches including a bureaucratic branch.

"I propose that bureaucrats should be independent from politicians, who can no longer be removed or transferred from the post, because if the bureaucrats are strong, they can keep a check on politicians,'' he said.

MPs did not need to work at the ministries - they could stay at the House to work on policies, he said.

Permanent secretaries, director generals and high-ranking ministry officials should work under limited terms and be protected from being sacked.

A national selection body should be established to select bureaucrats to the executive posts. Representatives from the media, the education sector, the law and other institutions could apply to be part of the selection body.

To balance power, the House should be given the role to nominate bureaucrats to executive posts.

Prawase said the new constitution should strengthen democracy at the local level. "This will make our democracy strong. The United States has been strong because its democracy at the local level is strong,'' he said.

In terms of development in the media, he said the country needed more media such as a new television station and several radio stations that were not under the control of the state, but independent.

Meanwhile, National Counter Corruption Commissioner Klanarong Chantik said it was his dream to see truly independent agencies elected by the public. He was against the Senate having the power to select independent agencies and said direct elections would solve the problem of political interference in independent agencies.

Dr Sukhum Nualsakul, a former Ramkhamhaeng University rector, said the balance of power between bureaucrats, politicians and the non-government organisations (NGOs) was very important for the new charter.

He said NGOs had enjoyed rising power, which had brought changes to society. Only politicians and been able to reach the grassroots.

"It depends on what the new constitution says as to whether the prime minister is appointed or elected. If it states that the PM is elected, politicians will be powerful. If it states that the PM can be appointed, bureaucrats will be more important,'' he said.