Seeking to find a path out of a political crisis dividing the nation, caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra today proposed the creation of a council to reform Thai politics.
In a televised speech, Yingluck suggested the reform council draw members from across society to develop and implement unspecified electoral and political reforms following the Feb. 2 election.
“My government has listened to suggestions of several sides from the several forums and agrees that reforms are needed in the social, economic and political dimensions,” she said.
Should her governing Pheu Thai Party prevail in the elections, it would be committed to the reform process.
In her outline, 2,000 people from professional groups and organizations would be recruited to choose 499 from that group to serve on the council.
Those 2,000 will be selected by a committee who will establish qualifications and vet candidates.
The 11 members of that committee will be chosen by the supreme commander of the armed forces, the secretary general of Thailand’s main development agency, heads of various government agencies and the Board of Trade’s president.
The Pheu Thai-led government will not be involved in the process, she said, and the council would not need its approval, The Nation reported.
