However, the panel did not reach a conclusion on the amount of the fee, or when it should be collected.

Committee chairman Wallop Tangkananulak said on Tuesday that they were considering three approaches.

One is to maintain the original stipulation, which requires the collection of Bt100 annually.

Another option is for collection of up to Bt100, while the third is to exempt such a fee in the first year so as to give political parties time to figure out the best method of collection to facilitate their members.

In the last of the three options, the committee had not yet decided how much the membership fee should be, Wallop said.

The panel had agreed to maintain the fee stipulation despite controversy over such a requirement, because the fee could be something that promoted people’s participation in politics, he added.