Lawmakers have proposed that all senators be handpicked by a screening committee and that a dual-ballot system used in MP elections as in the previous constitution.
The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) met on Friday to discuss the charter after the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) released its first draft last Friday.
The CDC is now seeking opinions so that it can make improvements in the final draft. It will listen to views from the National Council for Peace and Order, as well as other bodies set up by the junta — the cabinet, the NLA and the National Reform Steering Assembly — and said it was also open to suggestions from the people.
Jetn Sirathranont, an NLA member and spokesman for a panel on proposed changes to the draft charter, told Thai media on Saturday that the NLA would like to see four or five changes to the draft charter.
First, the single-ballot election system prescribed in the draft should be dropped because it is confusing. "Besides, the party-list votes from such a system may not reflect the will of the people," he added.
Under the draft, there would be 350 constituency MPs and 150 party-list MPs (Section 78). A voter can choose only candidate and that vote would count for the candidate's party as well.
Under the previous charter, a voter is given two ballots — one each for constituency MP and party-list MP — and he might vote for different parties on the two tickets.
Second, Dr Jetn said, the NLA does not agree with the requirement that each party announce the names of three people it plans to propose as the prime minister before the election (Section 83).
Third, the lawmakers do not agree with the indirect election of senators from 20 professional groups as a block vote cannot be prevented and the method could trigger vote-buying.
Section 102 provides for senators to be elected among themselves from professional groups. It does not explain how but said the methods would be detailed in an organic law.
"We propose that all 200 senators be appointed by a screening committee," Dr Jetn said, adding that the makeup of the screening committee could be more diversified.
He dismissed criticism that the proposed change was intended to pave the way for old senators to return.
"We think appointed senators performed well in the past. If senators are elected by the people, it's unavoidable that they come from the voting bases of politicians, who will dominate them."
Fourth, the NLA suggested that reform provisions should include more organisations. Currently, they cover only prosecutors, the education system and the police.
Fifth, he said, the rights and liberties of people should be specified more clearly.