A baby-sitters’ charter

THE junta that has ruled Thailand since a coup last May says it will hand back power only after it has healed political and social rifts that make democracy unworkable. On April 26th its placemen in a “reform” committee are due to finish debating the first full version of a planned new constitution intended to do just that. The charter, supposedly inspired by Germany’s electoral system, must receive royal assent by September if promised polls are to take place by the middle of next year. But it will not heal Thailand’s deep political wounds. Instead, it may well aggravate them.

Leaked on April 17th, a text of the charter confirmed rumours that had already been circulating. Its first objective appears to be to neuter Pheu Thai, a populist party hated by the establishment, but which has won every election since 2001 under various guises. By beefing up a system of proportional representation, the charter will make it difficult for any party to win a parliamentary majority. It would thus force endless coalitions between Pheu Thai and other parties—even its nemesis, the pro-establishment Democrat Party. It would also allow for an unelected prime minister, should no legislator earn enough support.