Primary problems

A ballot box in a polling station. The new political party bill is under examination by the Constitutional Court and under attack by political parties and critics of the new constitution. (File photo by Pattanapong Hirunard)

The primary vote system, a new element introduced in the organic law on political parties, has drawn heavy flak from parties which say it will cause a great deal of alarm.

Under the organic law which took effect on Oct 8, last year, political parties must organise primaries where members choose the candidates they want to stand in both constituency and party-list elections.

Critics are concerned that a primary vote is a time-consuming process that will prove costly to parties and leave little time for them to prepare for the next election.