Opinion from Pattaya News:
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Analysis: Thailand’s Next Prime Minister Still Uncertain: Our Take on the Current Situation
By Goongnang Suksawat
July 15, 2023
Pita Limjaroenrat, Move Forward Party Prime Minister candidate, says if he and his party fails to form the next Thai government, he will give the chance to his coalition partners the Pheu Thai Party.
On Saturday afternoon (July 15th) Pita released a video clip on social media. He said in the clip, “Thank you for 324 yes votes in Thai Parliament and putting faith in me becoming the 30th Thai prime minister, especially 13 yes votes from senators. I know that many of those senators have faced significant pressure for their decision to vote yes and listen to the people (Move Forward Party received the most seats in the recent Thai election, with Pheu Thai second.). The most important thing is to thank the people who have supported me and the Move Forward Party. I am sorry that we were still not successful in forming the next Thai government.”
“We are the number one party who got the most votes from the Thai people in the general election. We have a responsibility to those people to form the government. We have tried every way possible to follow the spirit of true democracy in order to respect people’s votes. This is the fight of the Move Forward Party together with 14 million votes from Thai people to prove that these votes are the future of the country.” Pita continued in his video.
Meanwhile, the Pheu Thai Party prime Prime Minister candidates are Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of exiled Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and Mr. Srettha Thavisin. There were rumors that Pheu Thai would put forward Srettha as a candidate if Pita could not form a government but Srettha has been mum on those rumors, stating that Pheu Thai currently fully supports Pita as the next PM. Pheu Thai also has Chaikasem Nitisiri, a former attorney general, as a candidate but he has recently had health issues and was hospitalized in April and as a result is not expected to be a prime choice at this time.
Pheu Thai is part of an eight party coalition attempting to form the new government, with the overwhelming majority of members coming from Move Forward and Pheu Thai.
When Thai media asked Mr. Srettha about the situation in terms of the possibility of putting him up for a formal Parliament vote to become Prime Minister he said, “I don’t know anything about these rumors. I was not in the recent meeting chaired by Pita. Please wait for the final conclusion from the eight party alliance, we stand behind the current plan for Pita Limjaroenrat as the Prime Minister candidate, thank you.”
The next Parliament joint session is scheduled for Wednesday, July 19th, and so far it appears Pita Limjaroenrat’s name will be put forward once again for a vote to become Prime Minister. He will need 375 yes votes to become the next PM. It is difficult to see many senators or opposition parties changing their vote to yes, however, as long as Pita Limjaroenrat vows to amend (not abolish) the Lese Majeste laws in Thailand. This has been the primary sticking point for those opposed to making Pita PM but he has held firm on not dropping this promise, stating it was part of Move Forward Party’s campaign platform and by dropping this important item they would be disappointing and upsetting a significant portion of their voter base.
Pita has continually stressed that the party does not plan to abolish Lese Majeste but to reduce penalties and punishments for possible violation of the law so that it cannot be used to silence people’s opinions. Currently, sentences for defamation of the Royal Family can carry up to fifteen years in jail, even for just expressing a negative opinion online.
The Move Forward Party is also planning to submit a bill to remove the power of the senators, who were appointed by the former military government and not elected, to vote for Prime Minister. This is, however, an upward battle and will be difficult to gain support for say most analysts.
Another possibility is that the minority power in government puts forward a candidate to become Prime Minister, likely Prawit Wongsuwan or Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul. However, both have denied, at least publicly, that this is a possibility and despite the likelihood of the appointed senate voting yes for these candidates, especially Prawit, the Thai public would likely be outraged by this action and due to the minority power in the House it would be difficult, if not impossible, to pass any laws, essentially making this a lame duck government.
Another possible solution that some have proposed is the coalition continuing to put forward Pita’s name until the Senator’s term expires in May 2024. However, analysts on both sides of the spectrum have dismissed this option stating that it was paramount to form a new government quickly. Pita himself seemed to suggest this was not a solution earlier today, July 15th, by emphasizing that forming a new government quickly was a top priority.
Meanwhile, pro-democracy activists and supporters of the Move Forward Party have pledged to keep up pressure on senators to “Respect the votes and voice of the people” and have arranged multiple protests, including a car protest at several prominent Bangkok sites this weekend.
Finally, Pita Limjaroenrat has several legal cases pending around his holding of media shares that could potentially disqualify him from becoming Prime Minister and have become an increasing problem as the Thai Constitutional Court has vowed to review them. Pro-democracy protesters have been angered by this action as well, claiming that this is just a way to try to avoid accepting the voice of the people and making Pita Prime Minister.
We at TPN media will continue to keep a close eye on this story as the next Parliament vote approaches.
https://thepattayanews.com/2023/07/15/a ... situation/
Prime Minister Election
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Re: Prime Minister Election
One of the questions I've been asking is if it won't be Pita, then who? The end of this article may answer that question, at least as far those polled believe. One of the possibilities could even be General Prayut Chan-o-cha again.
Very few seem to want protest rallies. My take on the poll, if it truly represents the people, is while in the end they might not like whoever it will be, but will accept the result. My take on that is I believe they feel no matter who gets it, even if it is Pita, nothing much will change anyway and the status quo will probably prevail.
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Thais want repeated re-nominations of Pita until he's endorsed: poll
July 16, 2023
More than 43% of Thais said Pita Limjaroenrat, the sole prime ministerial candidate of the Move Forward Party, should be re-nominated repeatedly until he is finally endorsed if he failed in the first round of vote in parliament, according to an opinion survey by the National Institute of Development Administration, or Nida Poll.
The poll was conducted by telephone interviews with 1,310 people on July 11-12, before parliament convened on July 13 to select the prime minister when Mr Pita was nominated for the post of prime minister. He needed at least 375 votes of endorsement but managed to get only 324.
Asked what should happen if Mr Pita failed to get the needed votes in the first round, the answers were:
• 43.21% said Mr Pita should be re-nominated repeatedly until he finally gets enough votes
• 20.69% said he should be re-nominated only once or twice
• 12.98% said the Move Forward Party should back down from some policies opposed by senators
• 7.94% said the Pheu Thai Party, which came second in terms of MP numbers, should be immediately allowed to lead the formation of a government
• 4.88% said the Move Forward Party should invite other parties in the former government bloc to join the eight-party alliance to increase support votes
• 2.67% said there should be protest rallies to apply pressure on senators to vote for Mr Pita
• 2.52% said the Pheu Thai Party should immediately take over the Move Forward Party in forming a government
• 2.29% said the Move Forward Party should immediately announce to take the opposition role
• 2.06% said the Pheu Thai Party should immediately form a new alliance to form a government
• 0.76% had no answer or were not interested
Asked who they thought stands a good chance of being nominated for the prime minister's post if Mr Pita failed to get enough votes, the answers were:
• 38.55% mentioned Paetongtarn Shinawatra of the Pheu Thai Party
• 35.04% Srettha Thavisin of the Pheu Thai Party
• 6.79% Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha of the United Thai Nation Party
• 5.42% Gen Prawit Wongsuwon of the Palang Pracharath Party
• 4.27% Anutin Charnvirakul of the Bhumjaithai Party
• 1.45% Jurin Laksanawisit of the Democrat Party
• 1.07% Pirapan Salirathavibhaga of the United Thai Nation Party
• 1.76% combined mentioned Chaikasem Nitisiri of the Pheu Thai Party and Khunying Sudarat and Sita Divari of the Thai Sang Thai Party.
The rest, 5.65%, had no answer or were not interested.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/po ... -nida-poll
Very few seem to want protest rallies. My take on the poll, if it truly represents the people, is while in the end they might not like whoever it will be, but will accept the result. My take on that is I believe they feel no matter who gets it, even if it is Pita, nothing much will change anyway and the status quo will probably prevail.
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Thais want repeated re-nominations of Pita until he's endorsed: poll
July 16, 2023
More than 43% of Thais said Pita Limjaroenrat, the sole prime ministerial candidate of the Move Forward Party, should be re-nominated repeatedly until he is finally endorsed if he failed in the first round of vote in parliament, according to an opinion survey by the National Institute of Development Administration, or Nida Poll.
The poll was conducted by telephone interviews with 1,310 people on July 11-12, before parliament convened on July 13 to select the prime minister when Mr Pita was nominated for the post of prime minister. He needed at least 375 votes of endorsement but managed to get only 324.
Asked what should happen if Mr Pita failed to get the needed votes in the first round, the answers were:
• 43.21% said Mr Pita should be re-nominated repeatedly until he finally gets enough votes
• 20.69% said he should be re-nominated only once or twice
• 12.98% said the Move Forward Party should back down from some policies opposed by senators
• 7.94% said the Pheu Thai Party, which came second in terms of MP numbers, should be immediately allowed to lead the formation of a government
• 4.88% said the Move Forward Party should invite other parties in the former government bloc to join the eight-party alliance to increase support votes
• 2.67% said there should be protest rallies to apply pressure on senators to vote for Mr Pita
• 2.52% said the Pheu Thai Party should immediately take over the Move Forward Party in forming a government
• 2.29% said the Move Forward Party should immediately announce to take the opposition role
• 2.06% said the Pheu Thai Party should immediately form a new alliance to form a government
• 0.76% had no answer or were not interested
Asked who they thought stands a good chance of being nominated for the prime minister's post if Mr Pita failed to get enough votes, the answers were:
• 38.55% mentioned Paetongtarn Shinawatra of the Pheu Thai Party
• 35.04% Srettha Thavisin of the Pheu Thai Party
• 6.79% Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha of the United Thai Nation Party
• 5.42% Gen Prawit Wongsuwon of the Palang Pracharath Party
• 4.27% Anutin Charnvirakul of the Bhumjaithai Party
• 1.45% Jurin Laksanawisit of the Democrat Party
• 1.07% Pirapan Salirathavibhaga of the United Thai Nation Party
• 1.76% combined mentioned Chaikasem Nitisiri of the Pheu Thai Party and Khunying Sudarat and Sita Divari of the Thai Sang Thai Party.
The rest, 5.65%, had no answer or were not interested.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/po ... -nida-poll
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Re: Prime Minister Election
Protest sizes have been quickly escalating and anger is growing. SO far there have been no reports of violence, however I think most of us are well aware that the angrier people become and the larger the protest sizes get, the greater the chance of violence breaking out.
So it has been peaceful and the police have not been trying to break up the protests.
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Car rally demands anti-Pita senators quit
July 16, 2023
A car rally crosses Somdet Phra Pinklao Bridge towards the naval headquarters on Sunday afternoon. (Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)
About 700 people using 500 cars and motorcycles joined a rally in central Bangkok on Sunday afternoon to demand the resignation of the senators who did not vote for prime ministerial candidate Pita Limjaroenrat of the election-winning Move Forward Party on Thursday last week.
The demonstrators first gathered at Democracy Monument and then moved to the headquarters of the navy, the army and the police.
The chiefs of the armed forces and the police as well as the chief of the defence forces and the permanent secretary for defence, all senators, were absent from the joint sitting of the House and the Senate last Thursday when parliamentarians held their vote on Mr Pita, the then sole prime ministerial candidate and leader of the Move Forward Party.
Leading the demonstration, activist Arnon Nampa said that if those senators resigned, the threshold majority vote from the House and Senate would be sufficient for Mr Pita to become prime minister.
"It (the resignation) would reduce the votes of senators and the number of (majority) votes needed to elect the pro-democracy parties to be lower than 376," Mr Arnon said.
The military-drafted constitution allows 250 unelected senators to join the vote on prime minister together with 500 elected House representatives.
Mr Arnon called on senators to vote for Mr Pita in the next round of the prime ministerial vote. He said Mr Pita was the prime ministerial candidate of the eight political allies which had a majority in the House, 312 out of 500 votes.
"We ask the senators who will join the next vote to respect the people's choice by voting in favour of the eight coalition parties," he said.
On Thursday last week just 13 of 249 senators voted in favour of Mr Pita.
Mr Arnon said that demonstrators gave their moral support to the 312 House representatives and the 13 senators who voted for Mr Pita last week.
Regarding the car rally on Sunday, the activist said he hoped the activity would encourage people nationwide to come out and show their support in accordance with their choice in the May 14 general election.
"I would like people to get up and fight for a national administration by a pro-democracy government," Mr Arnon said.
"The most politically legitimate person (as the new prime minister) is Mr Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of the Move Forward Party which won the election," he said.
He urged the eight coalition parties to remain united. If the Move Forward Party or the Pheu Thai Party joins forces with any political party from the caretaker government, people will curse them, Mr Arnon said.
MFP and Pheu Thai are the two main parties in the eight coalition alliance.
After visiting the headquarters of the army, the navy and the police, the car rally was set to reach its destination at the front of the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre in Pathumwan area.
Story, photo gallery, and video: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/po ... ators-quit
So it has been peaceful and the police have not been trying to break up the protests.
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Car rally demands anti-Pita senators quit
July 16, 2023
A car rally crosses Somdet Phra Pinklao Bridge towards the naval headquarters on Sunday afternoon. (Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)
About 700 people using 500 cars and motorcycles joined a rally in central Bangkok on Sunday afternoon to demand the resignation of the senators who did not vote for prime ministerial candidate Pita Limjaroenrat of the election-winning Move Forward Party on Thursday last week.
The demonstrators first gathered at Democracy Monument and then moved to the headquarters of the navy, the army and the police.
The chiefs of the armed forces and the police as well as the chief of the defence forces and the permanent secretary for defence, all senators, were absent from the joint sitting of the House and the Senate last Thursday when parliamentarians held their vote on Mr Pita, the then sole prime ministerial candidate and leader of the Move Forward Party.
Leading the demonstration, activist Arnon Nampa said that if those senators resigned, the threshold majority vote from the House and Senate would be sufficient for Mr Pita to become prime minister.
"It (the resignation) would reduce the votes of senators and the number of (majority) votes needed to elect the pro-democracy parties to be lower than 376," Mr Arnon said.
The military-drafted constitution allows 250 unelected senators to join the vote on prime minister together with 500 elected House representatives.
Mr Arnon called on senators to vote for Mr Pita in the next round of the prime ministerial vote. He said Mr Pita was the prime ministerial candidate of the eight political allies which had a majority in the House, 312 out of 500 votes.
"We ask the senators who will join the next vote to respect the people's choice by voting in favour of the eight coalition parties," he said.
On Thursday last week just 13 of 249 senators voted in favour of Mr Pita.
Mr Arnon said that demonstrators gave their moral support to the 312 House representatives and the 13 senators who voted for Mr Pita last week.
Regarding the car rally on Sunday, the activist said he hoped the activity would encourage people nationwide to come out and show their support in accordance with their choice in the May 14 general election.
"I would like people to get up and fight for a national administration by a pro-democracy government," Mr Arnon said.
"The most politically legitimate person (as the new prime minister) is Mr Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of the Move Forward Party which won the election," he said.
He urged the eight coalition parties to remain united. If the Move Forward Party or the Pheu Thai Party joins forces with any political party from the caretaker government, people will curse them, Mr Arnon said.
MFP and Pheu Thai are the two main parties in the eight coalition alliance.
After visiting the headquarters of the army, the navy and the police, the car rally was set to reach its destination at the front of the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre in Pathumwan area.
Story, photo gallery, and video: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/po ... ators-quit
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Re: Prime Minister Election
Several news items today, the upshot being whether it is legal for Pita to try again Wednesday. If he doesn't make it, probably someone in the Pheu Thai party will - second best as far as I'm concerned. Pita would have a strong voice in a coalition with that party, so even if he doesn't make it to Prime Minister, there is still a very good chance for him to have a strong voice.
But the Thais are making it very obvious that they voted for Pita and that is who they want. If he is not elected Wednesday, we'll see if the populace sits still for it. Again I hope if protests do break out they won't escalate into violence, but given Thailand's protest history I think that will depend on how many people come out to protest.
As always, the obvious advice to foreigners - stay well AWAY from any protests. Not only could that be highly dangerous, especially if it escalates, but Thais do not appreciate interference from foreigners, even if they support the protest. Remember - our opinions don't mean very much. The election result is something for the Thai people to deal with, not foreigners.
But the Thais are making it very obvious that they voted for Pita and that is who they want. If he is not elected Wednesday, we'll see if the populace sits still for it. Again I hope if protests do break out they won't escalate into violence, but given Thailand's protest history I think that will depend on how many people come out to protest.
As always, the obvious advice to foreigners - stay well AWAY from any protests. Not only could that be highly dangerous, especially if it escalates, but Thais do not appreciate interference from foreigners, even if they support the protest. Remember - our opinions don't mean very much. The election result is something for the Thai people to deal with, not foreigners.
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Re: Prime Minister Election
This is getting more and more complex, with only the rest of today to go before the next vote for Prime Minister. Each side is coming up with its own maneuvering and machinations. If the person voted into office is someone other than Pita, along with everything else he would have to consider that he is accepting an office that the vast majority of the people don't want him to have.
There is no way to know where this will all lead. Will the people just accept the outcome no matter who it is, despite that the outcome is controlled by unelected appointed officials who refuse to support the mandate of the people? If it is not Pita, will there be massive protests even if Pita asks people not to do that? Does all this open the possibility of yet another coup?
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Thai organisations challenge Senate’s prime ministerial authority
By Mitch Connor
Amidst ongoing political turmoil in Thailand, a collective of forty organisations including pro-democracy bodies, non-governmental agencies, and civil society factions made a united call. The appeal, presented to the media yesterday, demanded governmental respect for the General Election held on May 14. It emphasised recognition of the Move Forward Party due to its public support and backed its leader for the role of prime minister.
The joint appeal also challenged Section 272, intending to revoke the Senate’s right to co-elect the prime minister. It sought to counteract adjustments made to the electoral system by the Constitution Drafting Assembly of Thailand.
Following the victory of the Move Forward Party (MFP) in the May 14 polls, the party’s leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, was chosen unanimously by the eight coalition parties on July 13 as the single candidate for the prime minister role. However, Pita was unable to secure the necessary votes in the election to become the new prime minister. Out of the 705 participating members, the final tally recorded 324 votes in favour, 182 against, and 199 abstentions, which fell short of the needed 375 votes. Notably, Pita amassed a meagre 13 votes from the senators.
The pro-democracy factions, in the issued declaration, made a pointed critique of the Senate. They claimed that the Senate had exploited its authority by overlooking the popular voice, thereby flouting Section 159 of the constitution concerning the endorsement of a prime minister.
The groups expressed their grievances over the Senate’s appointment process, noting that it was conducted without public consultation or approval. This appointment was executed under Section 272 in the 2017 temporary provisions of the Constitution, penned by the then-operative National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).
Keen supporters of the statement included prominent organisations like the Union for Civil Liberty, Campaign for Popular Democracy, P-Net, the Pridi Banomyong Institute and the Thai Women’s Movement for Reform (WeMove), reported Bangkok Post.
https://thethaiger.com/news/national/th ... -authority
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Wan Noor Meets Whips to Discuss Details of 2nd Vote for PM
by THE NATION
July 18, 2023
Parliament President Wan Muhamad Noor Matha held a tri-partite meeting with whips on Tuesday to set common ground ahead of the second round of votes for PM on Wednesday.
The meeting included representatives of the eight-party bloc, parties from outside the bloc and Senate whips.
The meeting discussed the timeframe allocated for debate before voting can begin and talked about setting an agenda for the charter amendment bill submitted by Move Forward Party last week.
The Move Forward-led eight-party coalition reaffirmed its stance to renominate Pita Limjaroenrat as prime minister candidate on Wednesday, even though he failed to win the 375 votes required in the first round of voting last Thursday.
The coalition commands 312 MPs and needs 63 more votes from either senators or MPs from outside the bloc to win the PM’s seat. In the first round, only 13 senators voted for Pita and most abstained.
Move Forward retaliated by submitting a bill to amend Article 272 of the charter and remove senators’ right to join MPs in voting for the PM.
Senators, meanwhile, have been suggesting that Pita cannot be renominated on grounds that parliamentary regulations prohibit the submission of the same motion in the same parliamentary session unless approved by the Parliament president.
The Parliament president must deem the situation to have changed before he can approve the resubmitting of the same motion.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Wan Noor said no decision was made on whether Pita can be renominated for the second round of voting. Hence, he said, he would leave it to the majority in Parliament to decide on Wednesday. The side that supports Pita’s renomination believes that the nomination of a PM candidate is not a parliamentary motion, so Pita can be renominated any number of times, he said. Wan Noor also said that if no prime minister is elected on Wednesday, he will have to come up with a date for a third round of voting. As for the charter amendment bill proposed by Move Forward, it cannot be put on the agenda as it can only be deliberated after Thailand gets a prime minister, he said.
Move Forward, meanwhile, announced that it will hold a meeting of its 151 MPs in Parliament as a rehearsal of the second round of PM voting.
The party said it will also make preparations to submit seven bills to the House of Representatives, among which are bills to reform the armed forces and action against businesses that hold a monopoly.
https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand ... s/40029459
"The law, Lou. I'm going to use the law."
- George Peppard (Zeb Rawlings), 'How the West Was Won'
There is no way to know where this will all lead. Will the people just accept the outcome no matter who it is, despite that the outcome is controlled by unelected appointed officials who refuse to support the mandate of the people? If it is not Pita, will there be massive protests even if Pita asks people not to do that? Does all this open the possibility of yet another coup?
_______________________________________________________
Thai organisations challenge Senate’s prime ministerial authority
By Mitch Connor
Amidst ongoing political turmoil in Thailand, a collective of forty organisations including pro-democracy bodies, non-governmental agencies, and civil society factions made a united call. The appeal, presented to the media yesterday, demanded governmental respect for the General Election held on May 14. It emphasised recognition of the Move Forward Party due to its public support and backed its leader for the role of prime minister.
The joint appeal also challenged Section 272, intending to revoke the Senate’s right to co-elect the prime minister. It sought to counteract adjustments made to the electoral system by the Constitution Drafting Assembly of Thailand.
Following the victory of the Move Forward Party (MFP) in the May 14 polls, the party’s leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, was chosen unanimously by the eight coalition parties on July 13 as the single candidate for the prime minister role. However, Pita was unable to secure the necessary votes in the election to become the new prime minister. Out of the 705 participating members, the final tally recorded 324 votes in favour, 182 against, and 199 abstentions, which fell short of the needed 375 votes. Notably, Pita amassed a meagre 13 votes from the senators.
The pro-democracy factions, in the issued declaration, made a pointed critique of the Senate. They claimed that the Senate had exploited its authority by overlooking the popular voice, thereby flouting Section 159 of the constitution concerning the endorsement of a prime minister.
The groups expressed their grievances over the Senate’s appointment process, noting that it was conducted without public consultation or approval. This appointment was executed under Section 272 in the 2017 temporary provisions of the Constitution, penned by the then-operative National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).
Keen supporters of the statement included prominent organisations like the Union for Civil Liberty, Campaign for Popular Democracy, P-Net, the Pridi Banomyong Institute and the Thai Women’s Movement for Reform (WeMove), reported Bangkok Post.
https://thethaiger.com/news/national/th ... -authority
___________________________________________________
Wan Noor Meets Whips to Discuss Details of 2nd Vote for PM
by THE NATION
July 18, 2023
Parliament President Wan Muhamad Noor Matha held a tri-partite meeting with whips on Tuesday to set common ground ahead of the second round of votes for PM on Wednesday.
The meeting included representatives of the eight-party bloc, parties from outside the bloc and Senate whips.
The meeting discussed the timeframe allocated for debate before voting can begin and talked about setting an agenda for the charter amendment bill submitted by Move Forward Party last week.
The Move Forward-led eight-party coalition reaffirmed its stance to renominate Pita Limjaroenrat as prime minister candidate on Wednesday, even though he failed to win the 375 votes required in the first round of voting last Thursday.
The coalition commands 312 MPs and needs 63 more votes from either senators or MPs from outside the bloc to win the PM’s seat. In the first round, only 13 senators voted for Pita and most abstained.
Move Forward retaliated by submitting a bill to amend Article 272 of the charter and remove senators’ right to join MPs in voting for the PM.
Senators, meanwhile, have been suggesting that Pita cannot be renominated on grounds that parliamentary regulations prohibit the submission of the same motion in the same parliamentary session unless approved by the Parliament president.
The Parliament president must deem the situation to have changed before he can approve the resubmitting of the same motion.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Wan Noor said no decision was made on whether Pita can be renominated for the second round of voting. Hence, he said, he would leave it to the majority in Parliament to decide on Wednesday. The side that supports Pita’s renomination believes that the nomination of a PM candidate is not a parliamentary motion, so Pita can be renominated any number of times, he said. Wan Noor also said that if no prime minister is elected on Wednesday, he will have to come up with a date for a third round of voting. As for the charter amendment bill proposed by Move Forward, it cannot be put on the agenda as it can only be deliberated after Thailand gets a prime minister, he said.
Move Forward, meanwhile, announced that it will hold a meeting of its 151 MPs in Parliament as a rehearsal of the second round of PM voting.
The party said it will also make preparations to submit seven bills to the House of Representatives, among which are bills to reform the armed forces and action against businesses that hold a monopoly.
https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand ... s/40029459
"The law, Lou. I'm going to use the law."
- George Peppard (Zeb Rawlings), 'How the West Was Won'
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Re: Prime Minister Election
"It ain't over 'til it's over."
- Yogi Berra
And it ain't over yet.
The way I see it, the question is very simple. Will Thailand be a true democracy with a Prime Minister elected by the vast majority of the people or will final control of the election continue to be dominated by an opposition of military appointed senators who want to keep Thailand's laws and policies status quo, but they were elected by no one?
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Hashtags Pita, Constitutional Court trending on Twitter
July 19, 2023
Hashtags #Pita and #Constitutional Court shot to the top of Twitter trends on Wednesday after the charter court suspended the Move Forward Party leader and prime ministerial candidate from duty as an elected member of the House of Representatives.
The Constitutional Court unanimously voted to accept a petition from the Election Commission (EC) against the MFP leader over his shareholding in defunct media company iTV Plc for judicial review.
The court announced that Pita was suspended from duty as a party-list MP until the court delivers its ruling in the case.
Mr Pita previously said he did not own the shares as he only inherited them from his father. The shares were listed under his name as he was the executor of his father's estate. He had explained the matter to the poll agency before he was sworn in, he said. The shares had later been transferred to relatives.
The law prohibits shareholders in media firms from running for parliament.
The suspension was announced as the elected House and the appointed Senate were sitting in joint session on Wednesday to elect the country’s 30th prime minister. It was the second round of voting after Mr Pita failed to secure the needed majority last Thursday. He was renominated on Wednesday.
The court's decision fuelled a flurry of social media activity, with the hashtags #พิธา (Pita) and #ศาลรัฐธรรมนูญ (Constitutional Court) immediately becoming top trenders on Twitter. Many social media users commented on the issue.
Mr Pita, 42, whose party won the May 14 general election with 151 House seats, failed in his initial bid last Thursday to become prime minister, after he was unable to secure the required endorsement of more than half of the members of the two chambers of parliament. Many senators abstained.
After the voting last Thursday, the MFP submitted a proposal to parliament seeking to strip the military-appointed senators of their power to co-elect the prime minister.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/po ... on-twitter
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Fair Party exhorts Pita not to give up
July 19, 2023
Kannavee Suebsang, the Fair Party's secretary-general and only MP, exhorted Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat not to give up and to eventually return to parliament with grace.
Mr Kannavee on Wednesday posted his message on his Facebook page, giving his moral support to the MFP leader after the Constitutional Court suspended Mr Pita from duty as an elected member of the House of Representatives.
“Elegance in Thai politics is the act of respecting the public’s vote and adhering to the law under true democracy.
“Don’t give in to obstacles that prevent the nation from freeing itself of the shackles that have held up the country’s democracy,
“Don’t stop because rules and regulations have been created to favour authoritarianism and that put a halt to the development of the country, which is truly owned by the people.
“I offer encouragement to Pita Limjaroenrat. Suspension from duty is just temporary, then come back gracefully. People still want a true democracy,’’ said Mr Kannavee, whose party is one of the eight coalition allies led by the MFP.
His message was posted after the charter court temporaily suspended the MFP leader, party-list MP and candidate for prime minister from his duties as an MP.
The Constitutional Court accepted a petition from the Election Commission (EC) seeking a judicial ruling on the MFP leader's eligibility for political office over his former shareholding in defunct media company iTV Plc.
The suspension order was issued as the elected House and the appointed Senate were sitting in joint session on Wednesday to elect the country’s 30th prime minister. It was the second round of voting after Mr Pita, whose party won the most seats in the May 14 general election, 151, failed to secure the required majority last Thursday.
The 42-year-old MFP leader was re-nominated on Wednesday amid opposition from the military-appointed senators and MPs outside the eight-party alliance.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/po ... to-give-up
- Yogi Berra
And it ain't over yet.
The way I see it, the question is very simple. Will Thailand be a true democracy with a Prime Minister elected by the vast majority of the people or will final control of the election continue to be dominated by an opposition of military appointed senators who want to keep Thailand's laws and policies status quo, but they were elected by no one?
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Hashtags Pita, Constitutional Court trending on Twitter
July 19, 2023
Hashtags #Pita and #Constitutional Court shot to the top of Twitter trends on Wednesday after the charter court suspended the Move Forward Party leader and prime ministerial candidate from duty as an elected member of the House of Representatives.
The Constitutional Court unanimously voted to accept a petition from the Election Commission (EC) against the MFP leader over his shareholding in defunct media company iTV Plc for judicial review.
The court announced that Pita was suspended from duty as a party-list MP until the court delivers its ruling in the case.
Mr Pita previously said he did not own the shares as he only inherited them from his father. The shares were listed under his name as he was the executor of his father's estate. He had explained the matter to the poll agency before he was sworn in, he said. The shares had later been transferred to relatives.
The law prohibits shareholders in media firms from running for parliament.
The suspension was announced as the elected House and the appointed Senate were sitting in joint session on Wednesday to elect the country’s 30th prime minister. It was the second round of voting after Mr Pita failed to secure the needed majority last Thursday. He was renominated on Wednesday.
The court's decision fuelled a flurry of social media activity, with the hashtags #พิธา (Pita) and #ศาลรัฐธรรมนูญ (Constitutional Court) immediately becoming top trenders on Twitter. Many social media users commented on the issue.
Mr Pita, 42, whose party won the May 14 general election with 151 House seats, failed in his initial bid last Thursday to become prime minister, after he was unable to secure the required endorsement of more than half of the members of the two chambers of parliament. Many senators abstained.
After the voting last Thursday, the MFP submitted a proposal to parliament seeking to strip the military-appointed senators of their power to co-elect the prime minister.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/po ... on-twitter
_______________________________
Fair Party exhorts Pita not to give up
July 19, 2023
Kannavee Suebsang, the Fair Party's secretary-general and only MP, exhorted Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat not to give up and to eventually return to parliament with grace.
Mr Kannavee on Wednesday posted his message on his Facebook page, giving his moral support to the MFP leader after the Constitutional Court suspended Mr Pita from duty as an elected member of the House of Representatives.
“Elegance in Thai politics is the act of respecting the public’s vote and adhering to the law under true democracy.
“Don’t give in to obstacles that prevent the nation from freeing itself of the shackles that have held up the country’s democracy,
“Don’t stop because rules and regulations have been created to favour authoritarianism and that put a halt to the development of the country, which is truly owned by the people.
“I offer encouragement to Pita Limjaroenrat. Suspension from duty is just temporary, then come back gracefully. People still want a true democracy,’’ said Mr Kannavee, whose party is one of the eight coalition allies led by the MFP.
His message was posted after the charter court temporaily suspended the MFP leader, party-list MP and candidate for prime minister from his duties as an MP.
The Constitutional Court accepted a petition from the Election Commission (EC) seeking a judicial ruling on the MFP leader's eligibility for political office over his former shareholding in defunct media company iTV Plc.
The suspension order was issued as the elected House and the appointed Senate were sitting in joint session on Wednesday to elect the country’s 30th prime minister. It was the second round of voting after Mr Pita, whose party won the most seats in the May 14 general election, 151, failed to secure the required majority last Thursday.
The 42-year-old MFP leader was re-nominated on Wednesday amid opposition from the military-appointed senators and MPs outside the eight-party alliance.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/po ... to-give-up
-
Gaybutton
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Re: Prime Minister Election
Unfortunately, despite Pita's overwhelming election victory, his opposition in Thailand's parliament has successfully blocked him from being able to become Prime Minister.
And protests have begun. Again, keep AWAY from any protests wherever they break out.
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Parliament rejects Pita's renomination for PM
Vote sets precedent as next PM candidate will have only one shot at obtaining majority
July 19, 2023
The joint House and Senate sitting voted on Wednesday to reject the renomination of Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat for prime minister because a parliamentary regulation bans it, Parliament President Wan Muhamad Noor Matha said.
Mr Wan made the announcement after 715 parliamentarians voted electronically about 5.10pm. The parliament president called the vote after a lengthy debate on the issue, which started shortly after the meeting opened at 9.30am.
In the joint sitting, 394 parliamentarians, most of them unelected senators, voted against Mr Pita's renomination, 312 voted to support it, eight abstained and one did not exercise the right to vote.
Mr Wan said the rejection was by majority vote, because half the votes in the joint sitting was 374. The number was adjusted after Mr Pita was suspended from duty as an MP by the Constitutional Court earlier in the day.
After the vote Mr Wan brought the session to a close. Lawmakers are scheduled to gather again on Thursday, when the Pheu Thai Party is expected to propose its candidate for premier. Businessman Srettha Thavisin is the likely choice.
However, the mere presence of the progressive Move Forward Party in the current eight-party coalition alongside Pheu Thai is still seen as a deal-breaker for many of the senators. If the Pheu Thai candidate does not receive a majority, he or she will not get a second chance.
Mr Pita warned on Tuesday of such a scenario, saying that a vote to block his renomination would set a risky precedent for parliament.
Before the vote, parliamentarians spent hours disputing whether the renomination was allowed or not.
Opponents said parliamentary session regulation No.49 prohibited the resubmission of a failed motion to the parliament during the same parliamentary session. They said Mr Pita's nomination had been rejected last week and there was no new development that could justify its resubmission.
Pro-Pita parliamentarians emphasised that the regulation applied to general motions and not to the prime ministerial nomination. They said that it was a nomination, not a motion. They also said that parliamentarians should respect the choice made by the voters at the May 14 general election.
After the vote, several senators and MPs left parliament by boat, from the rear of the parliament compound, to avoid protesters who are gathered at the front of the complex.
Mr Pita’s Move Forward Party won the election, which cost taxpayers 6 billion baht, with 151 House seats. Recently he said he would make way for the Pheu Thai Party to nominate a prime minister if his bid failed.
Pheu Thai won 141 House seats and the two parties are the key members of the eight-party coalition.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/po ... ion-for-pm
And protests have begun. Again, keep AWAY from any protests wherever they break out.
______________________________________
Parliament rejects Pita's renomination for PM
Vote sets precedent as next PM candidate will have only one shot at obtaining majority
July 19, 2023
The joint House and Senate sitting voted on Wednesday to reject the renomination of Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat for prime minister because a parliamentary regulation bans it, Parliament President Wan Muhamad Noor Matha said.
Mr Wan made the announcement after 715 parliamentarians voted electronically about 5.10pm. The parliament president called the vote after a lengthy debate on the issue, which started shortly after the meeting opened at 9.30am.
In the joint sitting, 394 parliamentarians, most of them unelected senators, voted against Mr Pita's renomination, 312 voted to support it, eight abstained and one did not exercise the right to vote.
Mr Wan said the rejection was by majority vote, because half the votes in the joint sitting was 374. The number was adjusted after Mr Pita was suspended from duty as an MP by the Constitutional Court earlier in the day.
After the vote Mr Wan brought the session to a close. Lawmakers are scheduled to gather again on Thursday, when the Pheu Thai Party is expected to propose its candidate for premier. Businessman Srettha Thavisin is the likely choice.
However, the mere presence of the progressive Move Forward Party in the current eight-party coalition alongside Pheu Thai is still seen as a deal-breaker for many of the senators. If the Pheu Thai candidate does not receive a majority, he or she will not get a second chance.
Mr Pita warned on Tuesday of such a scenario, saying that a vote to block his renomination would set a risky precedent for parliament.
Before the vote, parliamentarians spent hours disputing whether the renomination was allowed or not.
Opponents said parliamentary session regulation No.49 prohibited the resubmission of a failed motion to the parliament during the same parliamentary session. They said Mr Pita's nomination had been rejected last week and there was no new development that could justify its resubmission.
Pro-Pita parliamentarians emphasised that the regulation applied to general motions and not to the prime ministerial nomination. They said that it was a nomination, not a motion. They also said that parliamentarians should respect the choice made by the voters at the May 14 general election.
After the vote, several senators and MPs left parliament by boat, from the rear of the parliament compound, to avoid protesters who are gathered at the front of the complex.
Mr Pita’s Move Forward Party won the election, which cost taxpayers 6 billion baht, with 151 House seats. Recently he said he would make way for the Pheu Thai Party to nominate a prime minister if his bid failed.
Pheu Thai won 141 House seats and the two parties are the key members of the eight-party coalition.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/po ... ion-for-pm
-
Gaybutton
- Posts: 21728
- Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
- Location: Thailand
- Has thanked: 2 times
- Been thanked: 1343 times
Re: Prime Minister Election
Now that we know Thailand's next Prime Minister will not be Pita, we don't know at this point who it will be. Whoever the new Prime Minister will be will probably have a difficult time of it, at least at first, knowing the people overwhelmingly wanted someone else. I would think that old cliché about winning hearts and minds will be priority number one and a difficult task. I think it will be an enormous challenge to win over the people who now will have a government forced on them rather than elected by them. We will see if whoever it is will succeed and be readily accepted by the people.
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Democracy Monument crowd decries Pita ouster
Hundreds vow to keep fighting to bring real democracy to the country
July 20, 2023
Demonstrators gather on Wednesday evening at Democracy Monument following the court-ordered suspension of party leader Pita Limjaroenrat and the rejection by parliament of an attempt to nominate him a second time for prime minister. (Photo: Wassayos Ngamkham)
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered at Democracy Monument on Wednesday night to vent their anger over the end of Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat’s bid to become prime minister.
The largely peaceful rally followed a dramatic day in parliament, where Mr Pita lost his MP status after the Constitutional Court ordered him suspended pending a ruling. After he left the chamber, lawmakers voted not to allow him to be nominated for prime minister a second time.
Some of the crowds that had rallied near parliament earlier in the day made their way to Democracy Monument at around 5pm. They were joined by others who wrapped a large cloth banner reading “Prime Minister Pita of People’s Consensus” around the monument.
Somyos Pruksakasemsuk, leader of the June 24 Democracy Movement, took the stage to open the rally by urging demonstrators to throw the full weight of their support behind Mr Pita.
He criticised dictators and feudal attitudes for destroying the rights and liberties of people. People’s hopes of seeing the Move Forward and Pheu Thai parties — with 25 million votes between them — forming a government had faded away.
Now, Move Forward was probably being forced to sit in the opposition camp, said Mr Somyos.
The Constitutional Court, he said, had become a mechanism to kill governments that came from democracy. However, those who staged coups walked free.
“From now on, we have to keep fighting in all forms — to knock on doors of senators’ houses or ring the bells at their houses to remind them to give their gratitude to the motherland by turning over a new leaf,” he said.
“The battle will not be about the Move Forward Party, but it is about people who cast their ballots in the (May 14) general election. We must join hands to take steps against the so-called independent organisations and ‘invisible hands’. The battle across the country starts today at Democracy Monument.”
As the evening wore on, crowds occupied more of the streets around the monument. Speakers on the stage railed against the behaviour of the junta-appointed senators who blocked Mr Pita’s candidacy, and at the Constitutional Court’s suspension order.
Human rights lawyer Anon Nampa and other pro-democracy activists urged the demonstrators to be witnesses to ensure that the Pheu Thai Party, which will now attempt to form a government, must not betray people by joining with other parties now in opposition.
Participants also performed a mock funeral for the unelected senators, complete with a coffin and cremation.
The protesters read a statement that outlined three demands: for the senators to resign, the eight parties in the coalition to stick together tightly, and for the coalition not to abandon the policy proposals promised to the people.
The Constitutional Court on Wednesday morning suspended the MFP leader from duty as an elected member of the House over his shareholding in the defunct media company iTV Plc.
The suspension was announced as the elected House and the appointed Senate were sitting in joint session to elect the country’s 30th prime minister.
With the failure to even call a vote on Wednesday, the next session to choose a prime minister has been scheduled for July 27.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... ita-ouster
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After Pita, Pheu Thai gets to run the show
July 19, 2023
The spotlight has now turned on the Pheu Thai Party, which is likely to take over from the Move Forward party in forming the next government, after they lost their bid to nominate their leader Pita Limjaroenrat as prime minister today (Wednesday).
Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew reconfirmed the unity of the eight political parties in the coalition pact, despite the latest setback suffered by Move Forward, and hinted at his party’s readiness to take the lead in forming the coalition.
Chaithawat Tulathon, secretary general of Move Forward, admitted that Pita’s failure to be nominated as prime minister has opened the way for Pheu Thai to be at the core of the next government.
“We need to talk with Move Forward and the other partners, to sound out their views on what steps are to be taken,” Cholnan told Thai PBS when asked about Pheu Thai’s political plan.
Cholnan said that the formation of the coalition and the nomination of the prime minister should be agreed upon before next Thursday, when the Parliament meets again. Cholnan did not, however, discount the possibility of additional political parties being brought into the coalition.
He also declined to confirm whether his party will nominate Srettha Thavisin, a well-known real estate tycoon, as prime minister. Srettha is one of Pheu Thai’s three prime ministerial candidates, who also include Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of former prime minister Thaksin, who suggested early this week that Srettha was qualified to be prime minister.
The party has yet to decide officially which of the three will be nominated.
Pheu Thai won the second largest number of House seats in the May 14th general election and is rumoured to have done a backroom deal with some of the political parties in the outgoing coalition government, while publicly voicing support for Pita.
https://www.thaipbsworld.com/after-pita ... -the-show/
_________________________________________
Democracy Monument crowd decries Pita ouster
Hundreds vow to keep fighting to bring real democracy to the country
July 20, 2023
Demonstrators gather on Wednesday evening at Democracy Monument following the court-ordered suspension of party leader Pita Limjaroenrat and the rejection by parliament of an attempt to nominate him a second time for prime minister. (Photo: Wassayos Ngamkham)
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered at Democracy Monument on Wednesday night to vent their anger over the end of Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat’s bid to become prime minister.
The largely peaceful rally followed a dramatic day in parliament, where Mr Pita lost his MP status after the Constitutional Court ordered him suspended pending a ruling. After he left the chamber, lawmakers voted not to allow him to be nominated for prime minister a second time.
Some of the crowds that had rallied near parliament earlier in the day made their way to Democracy Monument at around 5pm. They were joined by others who wrapped a large cloth banner reading “Prime Minister Pita of People’s Consensus” around the monument.
Somyos Pruksakasemsuk, leader of the June 24 Democracy Movement, took the stage to open the rally by urging demonstrators to throw the full weight of their support behind Mr Pita.
He criticised dictators and feudal attitudes for destroying the rights and liberties of people. People’s hopes of seeing the Move Forward and Pheu Thai parties — with 25 million votes between them — forming a government had faded away.
Now, Move Forward was probably being forced to sit in the opposition camp, said Mr Somyos.
The Constitutional Court, he said, had become a mechanism to kill governments that came from democracy. However, those who staged coups walked free.
“From now on, we have to keep fighting in all forms — to knock on doors of senators’ houses or ring the bells at their houses to remind them to give their gratitude to the motherland by turning over a new leaf,” he said.
“The battle will not be about the Move Forward Party, but it is about people who cast their ballots in the (May 14) general election. We must join hands to take steps against the so-called independent organisations and ‘invisible hands’. The battle across the country starts today at Democracy Monument.”
As the evening wore on, crowds occupied more of the streets around the monument. Speakers on the stage railed against the behaviour of the junta-appointed senators who blocked Mr Pita’s candidacy, and at the Constitutional Court’s suspension order.
Human rights lawyer Anon Nampa and other pro-democracy activists urged the demonstrators to be witnesses to ensure that the Pheu Thai Party, which will now attempt to form a government, must not betray people by joining with other parties now in opposition.
Participants also performed a mock funeral for the unelected senators, complete with a coffin and cremation.
The protesters read a statement that outlined three demands: for the senators to resign, the eight parties in the coalition to stick together tightly, and for the coalition not to abandon the policy proposals promised to the people.
The Constitutional Court on Wednesday morning suspended the MFP leader from duty as an elected member of the House over his shareholding in the defunct media company iTV Plc.
The suspension was announced as the elected House and the appointed Senate were sitting in joint session to elect the country’s 30th prime minister.
With the failure to even call a vote on Wednesday, the next session to choose a prime minister has been scheduled for July 27.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... ita-ouster
__________________________________________________________________
After Pita, Pheu Thai gets to run the show
July 19, 2023
The spotlight has now turned on the Pheu Thai Party, which is likely to take over from the Move Forward party in forming the next government, after they lost their bid to nominate their leader Pita Limjaroenrat as prime minister today (Wednesday).
Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew reconfirmed the unity of the eight political parties in the coalition pact, despite the latest setback suffered by Move Forward, and hinted at his party’s readiness to take the lead in forming the coalition.
Chaithawat Tulathon, secretary general of Move Forward, admitted that Pita’s failure to be nominated as prime minister has opened the way for Pheu Thai to be at the core of the next government.
“We need to talk with Move Forward and the other partners, to sound out their views on what steps are to be taken,” Cholnan told Thai PBS when asked about Pheu Thai’s political plan.
Cholnan said that the formation of the coalition and the nomination of the prime minister should be agreed upon before next Thursday, when the Parliament meets again. Cholnan did not, however, discount the possibility of additional political parties being brought into the coalition.
He also declined to confirm whether his party will nominate Srettha Thavisin, a well-known real estate tycoon, as prime minister. Srettha is one of Pheu Thai’s three prime ministerial candidates, who also include Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of former prime minister Thaksin, who suggested early this week that Srettha was qualified to be prime minister.
The party has yet to decide officially which of the three will be nominated.
Pheu Thai won the second largest number of House seats in the May 14th general election and is rumoured to have done a backroom deal with some of the political parties in the outgoing coalition government, while publicly voicing support for Pita.
https://www.thaipbsworld.com/after-pita ... -the-show/
Re: Prime Minister Election
What's wrong with that ?Bangkok Post wrote: ↑Thu Jul 20, 2023 6:14 amThe Constitutional Court on Wednesday morning suspended the MFP leader from duty as an elected member of the House over his shareholding in the defunct media company iTV Plc.
The whole electoral process is a sham.