To gain more than half of all the seats, a party must win more than half of the total votes nationwide, said Simira Lekphrom, deputy director of the EC’s department of election and referendum administration.

In cases where by-elections result in changes in the number of constituency MPs, the number of party-list MPs would also be affected, causing some to lose their seats, she added.Simira Lekphrom

CDC spokesman Norachit Sinhaseni, however, said that according to the Constitution, although some party-list MPs could lose their positions following a by-election, they would not have to return or repay their salaries and privileges received while in office. The charter also said a recalculation as a result of any by-elections would only be allowed within the first year and after that there would be no more changes, he stressed.

The EC officials also spelled out how the MP seats would be calculated under the new Mixed-Member Apportionment (MMA) election system.

Under the MMA system, the sum total of votes cast for all parties nationwide would be divided by 500 – the number of the seats in the Lower House – to find the mean number for apportioning the seats.

The total number of votes polled by a party would be divided by the mean number. The resulting figure would be the total number of seats the party could have in Parliament.

If a party does not already have enough constituency MP candidates, the vacancies could be filled by its party-list candidates.

In the event that a party wins more constituency MPs than the seats apportioned in the House, it would keep the extra MPs. The remaining seats would be redivided for other parties, proportionate with the votes they had polled.

Despite the complicated formula and the fact that it would make it difficult for any party to have a majority in the House, the CDC insisted that the MMA system or the single-ballot system would make every vote count.

Norachit said that the organic law on the election of MPs, which also dealt with the election method, would be submitted to the National Legislative Assembly on November 27, along with the organic law on the Senate.

He was reacting to reports on the upcoming Cabinet reshuffle, without elaborating on whether they would retain their current portfolios.

Another close friend of Prayut, Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister General Chatchai Sarikulya, would also remain in the Cabinet the PM said while keeping mum on his portfolio.

Prayut was also non-committal on whether he would take over the Defence Minister post.

“It’s a non-issue for now,” he said.

The new Cabinet list is ready but some procedures were still to be completed, he said.

“But I’ve done my best. And I did it [manage the list] alone, as it’s my authority,” he said.

He declined to reveal the number of new faces in the new Cabinet.

Local media reported on Friday that in the upcoming reshuffle Prayut would take over the Defence Minister post, while allowing current Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan to remain his Deputy Prime Minister.

There has been a trend toward PMs concurrently occupying the Defence lead, including the last prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra. Other concurrent holders were: General Chatichai Choonhavan General Suchinda Kraprayoon, Chuan Leekpai, General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, Samak Sundaravej, and Somchai Wongsawat.

Asked if he had submitted his proposed new Cabinet lineup list for royal endorsement, Prayut said, “I’m doing”.

The State Audit Commission voted 7-0 for Prajak’s nomination, which will now be forwarded for approval to the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), said General Chanathap Intamara, president of the Office of the Auditor General (OAG).

The term of the last auditor general, Pisit Leelavachiropas, ended in September. Recruitment for his replacement began on October 18, with 18 people applying to contest the position, said Chanathap.

The Auditor General would serve a six-year term under a new organic law.

Prajak graduated with second-class honours from the faculty of economics, Thai Chamber University and has worked at the OAG since.

Prajak was among the witnesses to testify against fugitive former PM Yingluck Shinawatra in the controversial rice-pledging scheme case in which the ex-PM was handed a five-year imprisonment term

The Office National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) gave itself an overall score of 90.44 while the Office of the Ombudsman ranks lowest with scores of 71.20.

The agency assessed a total of 422 state agencies based on indexes on transparency, accountability, lack of corruption, culture of integrity and integrity at work.

Agencies with scores of 80-100 are considered to have very high and transparency, those with scores of 60-79.99 are considered high, those with scores of 40-59.99 are considered average, those with scores of 20-39.99 are considered low and those with scores of 0-19.99 are considered very low.

No assessed agencies were given scores in low and very low rages.

The assessment results are divided into following categories – with some examples.

1. Courts’ administration, three offices

– Court of Justice, 92.37, highest

– Administrative Court, 88.29

– Constitutional Court, 81.79, lowest

2. Independent organisations, five offices

– NACC, 90.44, highest scores

– National Human Rights Commission, 83.94

– Office of the Ombudsman, 71.20, lowest

3. Attorney’s office, one office

– Office of the Attorney General, 78.98

4. Parliamentary offices, two offices

– Secretariat of the House of Representatives, 82.94, highest

– Secretariat of the Senate, 82.70, lowest

5. National Economic and Social Advisory Council, one office

National Economic and Social Advisory Council, 90.24

6. State enterprise agencies, 54 offices.

– Government Housing Bank, 97.97, highest

– Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, 97.13

– Government Savings Bank, 95.79

– Police Printing Bureau, 68.80, lowest

7. Public organisations, 52 offices

– Agricultural Research Development Agency, 96.55, highest

– Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration, 96.43

– Golden Jubilee Museum of Agriculture Office, 95.14

– Thailand Arbitration Centre, 66.52, lowest

8. State departments, 147 offices

– Office of Permanent Secretary of the Public Health Ministry, 92.46, highest

– Department of Environmental Quality Promotion, 92.13

– Office of Justice Affairs, 91.46

– Office of the Welfare Promotion Commission for Teachers and Educational Personnel, 59.65, lowest

9. Provincial governor offices, 76 offices

– Chainat Governor Office, 84.76, highest

– Sakonnakhon Governor Office, 84.73

– Phayao Governor Office, 84.49

– Udonthani Governor Office, 75.11

10. National universities, 81 offices

– Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat University, 87.17, highest

– Ramkhamhaeng University, 85.81

– National Institute of Development Administration, 85.18

– Mahamakut Buddhist University, 57.43, lowest

However, political parties could start updating their records now to meet the registration deadline set for early January by the organic law, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said yesterday after a meeting regarding organising local elections. Such activity would not be counted as violating the political ban, he added.

The statement came after days of confusion, following the junta’s ambiguous remarks that it would allow local elections before the next general election and might consider lifting the political ban to some degree.

Pressure had been mounting after the promulgation of the organic law on political parties, which stipulates strict deadlines for party activities starting at the date of the law’s implementation.

However, the amendment of the six laws involving local elections could not possibly be done this year, considering the new year is less than two months away, Wissanu said.

The laws had already been revised by the Council of State, Wissanu said, adding that after a process of hearing opinions, the legislation would be deliberated by the Cabinet and the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) respectively.

Local elections could take place and lifting the political ban could be considered only after that process, Wissanu said.

All decisions concerning the election and political ban would be made by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), he insisted.

Regarding concerns over preparations by political parties to be eligible to run in the next election, Wissanu said the NCPO would not prevent them from activities such as registering members.

Meetings of between five and 10 people might not always be counted as political activity, he said, adding that he believed political parties could operate under such conditions.

On Wednesday, chief charter writer Meechai Ruchupan proposed amending the organic law specifying deadlines for political parties. In response, Wissanu said yesterday that he did not want to be leading on the issue, but added that there were a few ways in which an amendment was possible.

For example, the Cabinet could make the amendment with the approval of related independent agencies, he said. At least 25 NLA members could also push for an amendment or related independent agencies could propose it, Wissanu said.

If the law is amended, the parties would no longer face a “ticking clock”, Wissanu said.

A MAJOR SHAKE-UP of Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha’s Cabinet could bring high-profile figures into play as the premier reportedly submitted his list of new ministers for royal endorsement yesterday.

Speculation has abounded since early this month, when General Sirichai Distakul abruptly resigned from his position as labour minister due to a controversy over the ministry’s registration of migrant workers.

The reshuffle reportedly focuses on improving performance in posts related to the economy, such as in the Commerce Ministry, Labour Ministry, Energy Ministry and Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry.

Prayut earlier promised that he would bring more civilians into the Cabinet and let go some of his personal acquaintances.

Meanwhile, senior government officials were in lockstep yesterday saying only the prime minister had the authority to make decisions on the reshuffle.

Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, who is in charge of economic affairs, refused to comment on possible candidates for his team, saying that only Prayut would provide clarification.

“The premier will pick capable people by himself,” said Government Spokesperson Lt-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd.

Prayut has reportedly locked himself in his office, cancelling almost his entire schedule over the past two days after returning from the Asean Summit in the Philippines early Wednesday.

However, he met Singapore’s former prime minister Goh Chok Tong at Government House yesterday.

Sources are split on the fate of Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister General Chatchai Sarikulya, a classmate of Prayut. He may have kept his seat, been shifted to replace Sirichai at the Labour Ministry or moved to the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry. Meanwhile, Chatchai’s staff yesterday were packing their belongings at the ministry amid reports that Chatchai would be shifted, ministry sources said.

Representatives from the Agricultural Learning Centre (ALC) network met Chatchai at the ministry to express their moral support, submitting the signatures of the 77 presidents of ALC nationwide to Chatchai in a petition asking Prayut not to transfer him.

Chatchai told his supporters that he had no idea whether he would be transferred.

“Nobody knows if I will stay or go. It’s up to the PM. But whether I am moved or not, I will continue to support farmers and push for agricultural reform,” he said.

“I cannot be agriculture minister until I die. I have fulfilled my mission and can rest in peace. I’m satisfied that I see my policies have been fruitful over the past two years and can help the farmers.”

Yukol Limlamthong, the former agriculture and cooperatives minister under Yingluck Shinawatra’s administration, was tipped as a candidate to resume the post if Chatchai is removed.

Yukol, who is also former permanent secretary at the ministry, is seen as close to Chartthai Pattana Party, which was the vehicle of the late prime minister Banharn Silpa-archa.

Speculation also indicated that Lak Watchananawat, former head of the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, might replace Chutima Bunyapraphasara, now agriculture and cooperatives deputy minister.

In turn, Chutima might return to the Commerce Ministry, where she was permanent secretary last year, and replace Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn, who reportedly could be removed.Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda

Further speculation reported that Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda might have been pressured to resign as national police chief. Sources indicated that he might become justice minister or instead replace Social Development and Human Security Minister Pol General Adul Saengsingkaew, who was tipped for a post as deputy prime minister.

The top post at the Energy Ministry may also see a change, with the three possible candidates being General Yodyuth Boonyatikarn, another close friend of Prayut; the ministry’s former permanent secretary Areepong Bhoocha-oom; and Pairin Chuchottavorn, former president and CEO of PTT, who is now a member of several committees under Prayut’s government.General Yodyuth Boonyatikarn

Wuttisak Lapcharoensap, Ramkhamhaeng University rector and a member of the junta-appointed National Legislative Assembly, will also probably be appointed to the Education Ministry, either replacing Education Minister Teerakiat Jareonsettasin or Deputy Education Minister General Surachet Chaiwong, who could be promoted to the top post.

Speculation has abounded since early this month, when General Sirichai Distakul abruptly resigned from his position as labour minister.

Prayut forwarded the reshuffled list for royal endorsement yesterday, cancelling all of his events and remaining at Government House, the source said.

Focus has been on ministries related to the economy such as the Commerce Ministry, Labour Ministry and Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry. Several Army generals, many of whom are close acquaintances of Prayut, and some high-profile civilians are being speculated about.

Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak  on Thursday refused to comment on possible candidates, saying that only Prayut would provide clarification.

“The premier will pick capable people by himself,” said Government Spokesperson Lt-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd. “Please wait until official announcement is made.”

Instead, the agency has the matter on to Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Industry Minister Uttama Sawanayon and Deputy Commerce Minister Sonthirat Sonthijirawong have been accused by the head of the Pheu Thai Party legal team, Ruangkrai Leekitwatana, of having more shares in private companies than the law allows.

By law, ministers are not allowed to hold more than 5 per cent of shares in a private firm. If anybody wishes to hold a larger stake, their shareholding must be transferred to a legal body that manages personal funds.

Worawit Sukboon, acting secretary-general of the NACC, said yesterday after receiving the complaint that the agency had looked into it and found that it was not within its jurisdiction.

The NACC had transferred the case to Prayut and his secretary-general Vilas Aroonsri for further consideration, he said, adding that all ministers were under the prime minister’s supervision.

The matter had also been sent to the Election Commission, Worawit said.

A source close to the NACC said that although the NACC could not review the case and had to pass it on, the matter could affect the Cabinet reshuffle expected to take place soon.

The source said most of the staff, who are military officers, were preparing to vacate the ministry although they did not know where Chatchai would be transferred to.

Reports have said Chatchai will fill the vacant post created by the resignation of former labour minister General Sirichai Distakul early this month. Chatchai’s current post will reportedly be filled by former permanent secretary and former agriculture minister Yukol Limlamthong.

Meanwhile, representatives from the Agricultural Learning Centre (ALC) network met Chatchai at the ministry to express their moral support.

The group also submitted the signatures of the 77 presidents of ALC nationwide to Chatchai, in a petition asking Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha not to transfer him.

Chatchai told his supporters that he had no idea whether he would be transferred.

“Nobody knows if I will stay or go. It’s up to the PM. But whether I am moved or not, I will continue to support farmers and push for agricultural reform,”

“I cannot be agriculture minister until I die. I have fulfilled my mission and can rest in peace. I’m satisfied that I see my policies have been fruitful over the past two years and can help the farmers,” he told the group.