The country is still in need of more power decentralisation and provincial governors should be elected to promote ''self-management'' in the provinces, a seminar was told yesterday.
Political parties were invited to give their take on decentralisation at a seminar organised by a group calling itself "People's Party for Freedom" at Thammasat University, Tha Prachan campus.
Phongthep Thepkanjana, a legal expert of the Pheu Thai Party, said decentralisation must begin by reforming the civil service system. Legislation which centralises power must be amended to promote devolution to local levels, though this will likely face resistance, he said.
However, in the initial stages, officials from central government will still be needed to connect with state agencies at provincial level, he said, adding that decentralisation may be piloted in small provinces first.
Thawil Praison, a former Democrat Party MP, said power centralisation will likely lead to more corruption and should be curbed. He said the Democrat Party has come up with a proposal that provincial governors be elected instead of being appointed, and that each province should become a "self-managing" unit to handle its own administration, though matters associated with defence and judicial affairs would remain with the central government.
Under the plan, each province would be supervised by parliament, independent organisations, and the courts of justice. A provincial council of citizens would be set up to keep each administration in check and have a say in formulating policies, Mr Thawil said. He also said the party also has a policy to restructure the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, under which Bangkok district chiefs would be elected.
Soratham Chinda, deputy secretary-general of the Prachachart Party, said the party will push for swift allocations of 35% of the budget to local administrative organisations as required by the law on decentralisation of power. Regarding the troubled South, he said the southernmost provinces are unique and should be granted special administration status.
Chamnan Chanruang, of the Future Forward Party, said the party has a policy to abolish "the bureaucratic state", where decision-making powers rest in the hands of bureaucrats.
He said the first thing the party will do is scrap all orders issued by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), which are seen as obstacles to decentralisation. He added the party also supports the election of local administration executives.
