Future governments will be required to comply with the national strategies stated in the constitution or they will face tough scrutiny and may end up being punished, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam has warned.
"Some political parties are already [challenging the national strategies] by saying they will seek amnesty [for those who will possibly be punished for violating the charter]. Others made it clear they aim to get rid of everything the National Council for Peace and Order has installed," he said.
He was speaking at yesterday's seminar titled "Thailand's Next Steps", in which he explained to the participants how the national strategies in the next two decades will be implemented.
In conclusion, policies to be declared in parliament by new governments will need to toe the line set by the national strategies stated in the charter. These include the national economic and social development plans, as well as other plans on national security and education, budget allocation and the rules governing the practices of all ministries, he said.
In the first framework for implementing the national strategies, the long-term direction in which the country will move has already been defined for future governments and this will involve adopting guidelines to help draft their policies, he said.
One benefit of this is that it should make it easier for foreign investors to decide if they should do business with Thailand, he said.
The second framework deals with stringent legal measures requiring governments to abide by the national strategies, Mr Wissanu said.
He said that unlike past charters, the current constitution clearly states what duties the government must deliver on and these must comply with all constitutional requirements.
To confirm they are in compliance, a consultation may need to be made with legal authorities, he added.
"The country has already had 12 national economic and social plans, none of which had any specific laws to enforce them," he said.
"From now on, there will definitely be laws to ensure the implementation of these plans and to stipulate penalties for those who fail to comply with them."
The third framework outlines the role of the national strategy committee, which will serve to monitor lawmakers, the government and the judiciary to ensure compliance with the national strategies, Mr Wissanu said.
