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Published on March 22, 2008

Deputy Premier and Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee yesterday called for a concerted effort to initiate amendments to the Constitution and its organic laws, to lift political stability and investor confidence.

The current atmosphere, fanned by growing speculation that coalition partners like the People Power (PPP) or Chart Thai parties could be dissolved, has dealt a hard blow to local and foreign investor confidence, he said.

"We must consider carefully what the cause of the problem is. Some Election Commission (EC) members said they had no choice but to follow the law," said Surapong, who is preparing to lead an international roadshow to promote Thailand abroad.

"It's like we're being legally constrained, so we may have to examine and see if some legislation is good for political development," he said, adding that an existing provision made it "too easy" to disband political parties.

Article 237 of the Constitution, governing the authority vested in the EC, should be amended, said Surapong.

"Apparently it's even easier than disbanding a business organisation. Is it appropriate for an offence committed by a party's executive members to lead to the disbanding of political parties formed by thousands of members?" he said.

Surapong, also secretary-general of the ruling PPP, asked MPs to help initiate the process of charter amendment, while voters in general may also join a signature campaign for amendments to be made.

There has also been speculation that coalition partners the Chart Thai and Matchima Thipataya parties could also be dissolved, due to electoral-fraud allegations against their executives.

As for the PPP, analysts believe the risk of being disbanded arose after the Supreme Court for Political Offences accepted the EC's vote-fraud case against House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat, a PPP executive.

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, the PPP leader,  reacted sternly to speculation that his party and two other coalition partners could be dissolved for electoral fraud. He warned that dissolution of the parties would have a severe adverse impact on the country.

Meanwhile, PM's Office Minister Choosak Sirinin said although several laws needed to be reviewed, the timing might not be right for amendments to the charter.

The Nation