The NRSA voted 140 to one, with 12 abstentions, to forward the report to the Cabinet, the National Legislative Assembly and the Election Commission.

NRSA member Sompong Sakawee, who chairs the subcommittee on the reform of political parties, also presented a section of the report regarding proposed changes to the political party system.

He said the report includes guidelines to develop political parties to become political institutions representing the public instead of being dominated by wealthy interest groups.

The proposed guidelines to achieve that objective includes allowing political party members to pay an annual fee of not more than Bt200, which would then be matched by the government.

Political party members would also be entitled to vote in primaries or otherwise select MP candidates in their constituencies. “This is to ensure that constituents accept MP candidates, which will make party members feel the party belongs to them,” he said.

Candidates would also be obligated to disclose their tax records for the previous three years.

In terms of the structural reform of political parties, executive party members would not be allowed to hold government positions, while political office holders and party officials would be independent of each other, Sompong said.

The report also stipulated that political parties could be disbanded if they sabotage democracy or pose a threat to national security.

It also suggested relaxation of the National Council for Peace and Order’s orders to allow political parties to hold acitivities ahead of the referendum, but the suggestion was shot down immediately by the prime minister yesterday.