A working session at the NLA of Thailand last November (Photo: AFP/VNA) Bangkok (VNA) – The National Legislation Assembly (NLA) of Thailand has passeda bill on political parties, which is important for the country’s politicalprogress, particularly when a general election is scheduled to take place inlate 2018.
Thebill, consisting of 142 articles, was passed with a vote of 180 in favour withissues settled over party funding and nomination of election candidates bypolitical parties.
Onparty funding, the NLA decided to set the party’s establishment fund at aminimum of one million THB (29,000 USD) with co-founders paying 1,000 – 5,000TBH each. The membership fee is 100 THB per head.
Forthe nomination of election candidates, parties are asked to set up a selection committeeto choose candidates for the official registration. Each party will make a listof 150 nominees with party leader placed at the No.1 candidates, while theremainder will be placed according to the number of votes received.
TheConstitution Drafting Committee and the Election Commission will decide in tendays if they want to seek a joint meeting with the NLA to propose changes tothe bill. -VNA
