CDC member Praphan Naikovit, who was once a member of the Election Commission (EC), met with election commissioners yesterday to discuss the formula that should be used to determine the number of MPs following an extensive debate on the interpretation of laws and formula.

After the discussion, Praphan told the press that this method had been finalised since the Constitution was written and amended during the process of drawing up the MP election law. “We’ve also considered the case of the extra numbers,” he said, referring to complications stemming from Pheu Thai getting more constituency seats than it was allocated mathematically. “This was done before we wrote the law. The calculation method is available for the public through the Parliament office.”

The document shown in the Parliament website suggests that the formula used to calculate how many MPs each party will get is the one that allows smaller parties to get seats in the Lower House.

Most small parties have won between 30,000 and 70,000 votes, while initial calculation suggested that a party must win at least 71,057.50 votes to get an MP seat.

Opponents of this formula had argued that they may not pass the stipulation that says no party can get more seats than it is entitled to.

It is feared this will have a serious impact on the formation of a legitimate government.

Currently, the pro- and anti-junta camps are neck-and-neck in mustering MPs to claim legitimacy to set up a coalition.

If the 11 small parties that got less than the 71,057.50-vote threshold win places in the Lower House, it is believed they will be easily wooed by the conservative faction – a development that will ultimately handicap the pro-democracy wing.

Critics have also expressed concern that a coalition comprised of more than 25 parties will lack stability.

Praphan, however, insisted the formula had been finalised a long time ago and that it was within the EC’s authority to come up with a final calculation to determine MP numbers.

Meanwhile, criticism against the polling agency continues.

Activist Siravit Serithiwat, better known as Ja New, stood outside the EC headquarters on Chaeng Wattana Road yesterday collecting signatures to demand its dissolution. The activist then went to the Imperial Samrong department store to collect signatures, pushing for the EC’s dissolution due to alleged suspicious activities during the election, which he said was not transparent either.

As of press time, Siravit had obtained 5,000 signatures. He said he will take his campaign to the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre tomorrow. He plans to submit the petition to the National Anti-Corruption Commission on April 10.