Bangkok, Dec 24 (IANS): Thailand's Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) has rejected a plan to directly elect the prime minister and cabinet, saying the idea carries risks.

The CDC decided the conventional parliamentary structure and relations between the executive and legislative branches should be retained in the new constitution, Bangkok Post reported.

CDC deputy chairman Suchit Bunbongkarn said the committee had discussed the direct election proposal and agreed the system under which the prime minister is elected by the majority of the House of Representatives should remain.

He said the CDC could not accept the proposal because the direct election of the premier and cabinet is fraught with risks.

The chairman said the CDC would not know how the direct election system would have turned out, adding that it would be difficult to prevent political parties from being dominated by party financiers and businessmen, since national elections require a lot of funding.

"This may be seen as far from progressive. But being progressive has risks," Suchit said.