PM backs changes to poll inspectors

Says new EC members must have their say

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday defended a move by a group of National Legislative Assembly (NLA) members to amend an organic law involving rules governing the selection of poll inspectors.

Gen Prayut dismissed speculation that the lawmakers were trying to scrap the ongoing process to select the election inspectors.

The move came after the outgoing election commissioners earlier this month started selecting 616 poll inspectors. Some legal experts have said the process should be overseen by the new election commissioners.

Poll inspectors play an important role as they help the Election Commission (EC) monitor elections across the country. Each poll inspector receives a salary of 50,000 baht a month.

NLA president Pornpetch Wichitcholchai confirmed on Monday some members wanted to amend the organic law to ensure the EC could not revise the rules concerning the inspector selection process at will.

Gen Prayut defended the NLA saying the amendment was not intended to overrule the selection of poll inspectors by the outgoing EC, but instead to allow the new EC members to also have a say in the matter.

The prime minister said he did not consider the NLA’s attempt as an intervention in the EC’s affairs. “It was important the new poll commissioners should get involved in the process,” he said.

EC secretary-general Jarungvith Phumma said yesterday the selection process for the inspectors was close to completion and the list should be announced early next month.

The first poll inspectors are being chosen in preparation for the selection of senators, which will take place after the organic bill on senators takes effect, he said.

Meechai Ruchupan, chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee, reportedly disagreed with the lawmakers’ move to amend the rules.

“I don’t know how they plan to address the issue. But why do they have to do that? Poll inspectors are the EC’s tools,” he said.

Mr Meechai, however, said he understood the outgoing EC chaired by Supachai Somcharoen had to move ahead with the selection of inspectors due to a tight schedule.

“They are the EC’s eyes and ears, so the commissioners must choose people they can rely on,” he said.

Under EC regulations on the selection of poll inspectors published in the Royal Gazette in late April, each province can have up to eight poll inspectors.

According to Mr Meechai, the NLA may propose the amendment without seeking the EC’s opinion as the lawmaker has full authority to propose a draft law.

Mr Pornpetch said on Monday he suspected the plan has nothing to do with the ongoing selection process as any proposed changes would take time to be implemented because the bill must undergo a public hearing process under Section 77 of the charter and be reviewed by the Constitutional Court.

A source from the NLA, who asked not to be named, said 36 NLA members led by Mahannop Detwitak backed the amendment and none came from the military.