bannork

Ask Jim. He surfaces from time to time- mrmojorisin.. Shhh- he's got his bags ready in Singapore, waiting for a deadlock regarding non selection of PM . Then lo and behold, he returns as an outsider PM! ( allowed under the constitution if cannot choose PM from Parliament). Bananas all round for the military backed parties to vote the right way. Sorry, that was just a bad dream I had last night, too many chillis in the shrimp salad, phew!

It will be on TV, probably.NBT. MPs have four hours for debate, senators two

Prayuth could have used the 1959 constitution if the public rejected the 2017 one Wikipedia - A temporary charter was promulgated in February 1959 and remained in place for nine years, even after Sarit's death in 1964. The charter has been called "perhaps the most repressive in Thailand's history."[19] It granted the premier near absolute power, including the authority to order summary executions.[26] It banned political parties and called for an appointed unicameral parliament, consisting of 240 mostly military appointees.[19] It contained only 20 articles, making it the shortest charter in Thai history.

If they did not vote for the 2017 Constitution, Prayuth was going to impose an older, likely a more repressive constitution. Where is the choice in this devil or the deep blue sea alternatives?

They had a Hobson's choice: Vote for the 2017 Constitution with no public criticism/ debate allowed of its contents.. Reject or not vote for the 2017 Constitution and then an unknown previous constitution would be imposed. That's not a genuine choice, the public have no input/ say in the constitution .

From Wikipedia National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) unveiled a draft constitution on 29 March 2016.[65] In the run-up to the 7 August 2016 referendum on the new constitution, the army conducted a "grassroots information campaign." There was no debate permitted on its merits.[66] Under the junta's rules, "people who propagate information deemed distorted, violent, aggressive, inciting or threatening so that voters do not vote or vote in a particular way" faced up to 10 years in jail and a fine of up to 200,000 baht.[67] The 105-page, 279-article constitution[2][3] was approved by 61.4 percent of Thai voters on 7 August 2016 with 59.4 percent of the public

Let me help you "The government had previously made a new constitution a prerequisite for a general election, but Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said a vote would go ahead in mid-2017, even if it had to be held under an old constitution.' I've told you this before. Prayuth threatened to use an old constitution if the 2017 one did not pass He didn't specify which one but as a junta leader he would obviously choose one benefitting an authoritarian government. The people had no choice in 2017.

It was illegal for the population to debate the constitution ratified by the junta after seizing power in 2114. It was illegal for political parties to debate the 2017 constitution.

And who would choose the constitution to revert to, and how many more years down the road? The junta

Absolutely.

It was a Hobson's choice for Gawd's sake. After the coup, the junta wrote a constitution in 2015 which their own council rejected. It was forbidden to criticise the 2017 constitution, if the public rejected it, who knows how many more years before a third would be written? All the while, the junta remained in power, using their ' emergency ' constitution post coup. The public had no choice. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-34149523

h90 is fond of saying in his country ( Austria) governments are often composed of coalitions from parties that came second, third, fourth. So it's no surprise the party that won the most seats cannot form a government. However, as far as I know, Austria doesn't have 250 senators, all personally appointed by the previous PM / government, able to vote in the selection of the following PM.

Wow!

Yesterday there was a big crowd to welcome him in Supanburi. Today it's Pathum Thani .

Do something good for a change and act in democracy's interest. Vote for Pita.

Right on, Chaturon!

Settha is becoming impatient to be PM. Just 2 days ago, the Deputy House Speaker from PT, Pichet, said Pita should have three chances to be PM, voting on the 13th, 18th and 20th. And now Settha says only one. PT, a bunch of cobras. Then, the rumour that won't die that speculates up to 80 PT MPs may actually vote for Pravit as PM. Their only reason to do that rather than vote for Settha is to bring Thaksin home. But at such a cost politically. PT seen to be the scum they really are ( with a few notable exceptions).

Imo what MF must do is be steadfast. 14 million people voted for them, they mustn't walk away from the coalition if Pita fails to become PM. Let Chettha be the PM but MF must insist on the ministries already designated. They must be seen to be working for the people, carrying out their policies they outlined. If PT make it impossible for them to remain, then let the public know. But don't let the public down by voluntarily quitting the coalition.

Could be orders from their boss abroad.

No, no! Jim has announced on this website many times in the last two months that the great man is coming back in style on his birthday at the end of this month. Sadly Tony may be crooning instead in some Singapore hotel karaoke suite: ' Why did you throw the Jack of Hearts ( Pravit) away? It was the only card in the deck that I had left to play?'

Yes, the loyalist, royalist supporters are mostly in their 'golden' years. Plus they're used to comfort, air-con etc. They might occupy Central department store but that's about it.

I think there's a very good chance they will because the two candidates who might contest the leadership election this Sunday both support Pita as PM. Alongkorn is certainly standing and Abhisit might. The possible contender from the south, Decha-It Khaotong, is now mulling the Secretary General post apparently, before bidding for leadership in the future

Some MPs in the junta block may vote for Pita. The Democrats with their new leader on the 9th, for example

Jatuporn confidently predicted that PT's Suchart Tancharern would be elected House Speaker. Wrong. PT don't have to do anything if Pita is not elected by the senators. The coalition sticks together then proposes Settha as PM. If the senators reject even him, then it is screamingly obvious the senators are rejecting the choices of the vast majority of Thai voters. The coalition go into Opposition and let.Bhumjaithai form a minority government which very quickly collapses. Only Anuthin has already said he won't be part of a minority government. A way out for the dinosaurs and PT would be the dissolution of MF, but even then the MPs can join a reserved spare party. PT risk considerable damage if they betray MF and join Bhumjaithai. Better to stick with MF and see the senators blink. After all the senators sole objection to MF is reform of article 112.. PT have no such agenda so senators have no reason to oppose Settha as PM.