Critics have warned that the extra question to be added in the referendum on the draft constitution may not be impartial and could have a "hidden agenda" designed to persuade voters to support the military regime.
Election Commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn yesterday said the question was too long and contained technical jargon that was difficult for voters to understand.
His comments came after the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) on Thursday voted to add a question to the referendum on whether to enable an appointed Senate to help select a premier. The question was proposed by the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA).
The question reads as follows: "In order to ensure continuity in the implementation of national reform under the national strategy during the five-year transition period, do you agree that a joint sitting of parliament should be allowed to vote to select a prime minister and that this should be included in a provisional clause [of the draft charter]?"
Mr Somchai said the referendum question should be easy, concise and impartial and that there is no need to provide any kind of rationale before asking the question.
He noted the reason cited in the referendum question to ensure continuity in reforms could be seen as an attempt to persuade voters to support the military regime during the transition period.
Mr Somchai said the question needs to be fine-tuned in line with academic principles, adding he will present an improved version of the question to Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam for consideration on Monday.
Responding to Mr Somchai's comment, Mr Wissanu yesterday stressed the need to stick to the question approved by the NLA. Though the question can be rephrased to make it easier to understand, its essence cannot be tampered with, he said.
Mr Wissanu said he was ready to discuss the matter with Mr Somchai, though the NLA will have the final say on the issue.
Mr Wissanu added voters will be given a single ballot to answer the extra question and vote on the draft charter in the referendum. The ballot will be divided into two parts using different colours to differentiate the section with the extra question from that of the draft charter.
In the event either of the two parts is spoiled, the other part of the ballot remains valid, Mr Wissanu explained.
Former Bangkok senator Rosana Tositrakul wrote on her Facebook page that there has been criticism that the extra question has "a hidden agenda" designed to manipulate voters to support the military regime's proposal for an appointed Senate, which critics say is a way for the regime to maintain its grip on power during the transition.
If the draft charter and the extra question pass the referendum, the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) will have to revise the new constitution, which only gives a mandate to select a premier to the House of Representatives.
Ms Rosana suggested if the question passes the referendum, the new constitution be amended to bar members of the NLA, the NRSA and the CDC from holding political office for two years.
She said these members, particularly the NLA and NRSA, are considered to be stakeholders and may be criticised for coming up with the extra question to please the National Council for Peace and Order and get seats in the appointed Senate in return.
They should be banned from holding political positions for two years after they leave office to avoid conflicts of interest, Ms Rosana said.
Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon yesterday insisted the regime did not instruct the NLA to add the question to the referendum ballot.
"The NCPO did not give the order," the deputy premier said. "Who can order 200 people to do anything? They just want national progress."
Gen Prawit said the question to be added in the referendum was intended only to guide the CDC.
Even if the addition of the question results in the draft constitution failing at the referendum, elections will still take place in 2017, he said.
Gen Prawit added he did not think ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra's calls for Pheu Thai Party politicians to gear up for the general election were a signal for his supporters to endorse the draft charter in the referendum.
Thaksin addressed, via a Skype video call from China, a gathering of Pheu Thai executives and party members at the party's headquarters on Thursday, saying he strongly believes the election will take place next year.
Gen Prawit said political parties are eager to contest the polls, but they should also accept the transitional period rules.
