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seemed to focus only on the political parties rather than the candidates. Political parties, therefore, did not
need to change the method of selecting candidates to win the election. It was only important to maintain

the popularity of the party. It was believed that no matter who is a candidate, people will vote for such
political parties. Therefore, there are issues and questions. Is there any public participation in political parties
in democracy? Is there democracy in political parties? It is not important and necessary in any way for the
political parties to make changes. Phuea Thai Party pays attention to the party administrators rather than

the involvement of the people or party members. The party administrators and commission have the
absolute power to select or change candidates without binding to the nomination from the party branch
3
commission and the candidate selection committee . This regulation has been amended from Regulations
4
of Phuea Thai Party, 2008, to become the Transitional Provisions of the Party Rules, 2018 , (4) stating that
if the party administrators does not approve a person on the nomination by the selection commission, the
nomination commission will seek another candidate to replace that person. If the same nomination by the
selection commission is still insisted and the party administrators disagrees to the decision, the party

administrators and the selection commission for the election will have a meeting to seek the resolution.
The final decision will be in accordance with the resolution at the meeting with both parties.

Indicator 3: Equality of Genders, Races, and Religions

Phuea Thai Party promotes female roles by promoting national roles of the female MPs especially during
the period of Thai Rak Thai Party (the previous name). At that time, there was a policy for women such as
women’s fund. Phuea Thai Party promotes female roles in the party according to the Transitional
Provisions of the Party, 2018, (2) stating about the selections of candidates for equality between men and
women along with the opinions of the party branch leaders, provincial party members, and other related

members.

Indicator 4: Rights and Liberty of Public Opinions

Phuea Thai Party gives the rights and liberty of expressing opinions including criticism toward the party
administrators. During the party meetings, everyone can make comments without intimidation. The
discussion is done freely in the party with respect for the party's resolution. For example, there was a

3 Regulations of Phuea Thai Party, 2008, requires the selection commission to select the candidates through the nomination
by the party branch commission, but the decision-making process is authorized by the party administrator to change or
nominate other persons if appropriate. Besides the regulations to give the authority to the party administrators to "change
or select other people if appropriate” despite the nomination by the selection commission, Article 89, if suitable, the party
administrators may change or select other persons in addition to the nomination by the commission.

4 ร่างข้อบังคับพรรคเพื่อไทย 2561 Draft Thai Party Regulations 2018