Eric Loh

The overwhelming win by a novice youthful party really lay rest the notion that voting buying can influence election. The money bag traditional parties will continue to pay cash and kind to voters but will not gurantee loyalty at the ballot boxes. The record turn-out of voters also put to bed any prattle that Thais are lazy to vote. Thais are not uneducated nor ill informed of political issues to come out to vote for the party that they want to lead the country. They care about their economic and social well being and vote to get a better life. This election is a game changer for so many reasons and should dispell much of the parochial thoughts of Thais. The demographic has changed.

Always has been this arrangement. Party that has most seats will chair the speaker's post. PTP should accept this as in the past Houses when they are the majority, House speaker post were from their party.

His talk about coming back was to fire up his base for the election. He has done that numerous times in the past to connect to his base. Don't think it's the reason for PTP not doing. The party still got a lot of votes and seats. They miscalculated the popularity of MFP and the shift in demography. The younger voters have very little affliation for Thaksin. Different time period. That was purely speculation. Thaksin has never said he will work with PPRP and BJT. PTP leaders like Sreetha and Paetongtarn have made that clear several times that they will not work with junta allies. Personally I don't see that possibility when it was the military that got him and his sister exiled and separate from his family. He will also not forgive Newin for betraying him. That is quick a stretch to said that Thaksin has soft spot for the military. In fact it was the changes that benefitted the people that worried the elites & military and ended in coups. In the same way that the MFP election success and manifesto for change worried the elites & military.

That was the diplomatic reason.

Constitutional procedures stipulate that the EC has up to 60 days to certify results. EC can hasten the certification in less than 60 days. Any disqualification of candidates should have been done before the election. EC has their election war room to monitor the election and observers at the voting booths. There are also foreign observers from diferent embassies and international election intergrity watch groups. The delay is totally unnecessary unless they are doing the bidding on the behalf of vested interest people. I don't trust the EC impartiality.

I see that as the biggest risk. Abstain so you need not vote. Easier choice then making yourself known which side you take since it's an open ballot voting. If the numbers of senators abstaining are large, it will be difficult for to achieve the 376 votes and will leave the country without a Prime Minister. That will be disaster for the country.

Not dinosaurs but Frankenstein. Voting has always been the based on votes in the Parliament. No senates involvement. The junta created this Frankenstein in 2019 to kneecap the people to decide on their leaders. Similarly the EC was another Frankenstein created by post coup junta in 2007. The Ministry of Interior managed election matters prior. I hope all lawmakers in the House of Representatives will rise to the occasion and unanimously correct this wrong and out-vote the senates. Some of the parties like Dem and BJT are under pressure to show they are on the side of the majority voices. Prawit has been quite conciliatory in his statement to move the country forward and pointed out that past attempts by the elites & military to dominate politics have failed. They is really no hope for a junta coalition as they simply don’t have the numbers. Unlikely that the junta parties will nominate any of their leaders as PM. I doubt Prayut and Prawit wish to be in the nomination list. The only fear is that the senators abstained from voting which will put the country in a limbo without a government. I sincerely hope all the elected representatives will do the right thing and not leave this to chance in the senate and put the country into jeopardy

The voting is open ballot and can assert some pressure on their decisions against a backdrop of open dissent for the junta government.

Not many in both camps to win elections. Worse they have to resort to judiciary and military coups to trodden on the majority.

Amendment of section don't need a referendum. Just need the house to vote on it. You right that the senators may not vote for amendment which I find doubt as they are outgoing and nothing more to gain by voting no.

Haven't you read the MOU platform signed and agreed by all 7 coalition allies? The agreement include the drafting of a new and more democratic constitution. No selection but elected senators as in the pre-coup past.

The good news is that the unelected senators are required by law to vacate their seats next year. The bad news is that they will still be around for the joint house vote for PM.

PPRP leaders have since refuted this rumour. There will be many more rumours that will try to cause mistrust and discord among the MFP coalition parties for self serving agenda. Lets hope they will not succeed and the majority of Thais will have their elected government.

Is this your personal opinion that the yellow elites and the military think that the monarchy is in danger or you think that they want their supporters to think there is danger to protect their existence. No one is abolishing 112. In fact, it is not even in the coalition MOU. Thailand has been a constitutional monarchy since 1932 and Thais accept that form of democracy.

You not wrong but you have to separate those who do their research and have a good knowledge of the local political idiosyncrasies to provide an intelligent analysis as against those who has just post based on emotion and those that has little knowledge and simply troll.

How would that coalition be? Without the MFP, there will not be any majority in the lower house. In fact it will be a fractured house in disarray with none having majority. You think PTP has not done the scenario planning? It's practically a disaster for PTP on so many fronts to not include MFP.

Universal democratic principle to have elected representatives. Many forms do exist in every country.

Really doubt that PTP will accept all the MPs from PPRP if dissolved. Some of the MPs were from the PDRC and will be a betrayal to their supporters if they are allowed in. Others are practically ex-TRT politicians who switch to PPRP for money and power and will have no problem going back to their roots. PTP will also unlikely to step ahead and made their intention known as it will backfire on their popularity. They have also said that in the media. But the bottomline is that the military backed parties are done and the 3P involvement in politics are over and good riddance to that. Either MFP and PTP and their coalition partners gets into power, it is a win for democracy.

AFAIK when the term ends, the constitution on senate appointment proceedings will have to be re-written due to the legal technicality as regards to the selection and appointment of the senators. The body (NCPO) that was assigned to select the panel of 8-10 person committee has been disbanded after the coup. No provision in the constitution for mass replacement but there are provisions for resignation and death. The constitution allows amendment to the military-backed constitution adopted in 2017. In 2020, oppositions pushed for amendment to abolish the Senate and demanded change but was voted down by the joint houses. Civilians can pushed for amendment if they can garnered sufficient signatures. Re-drafting the whole constitution will need a referendum.

The share ownership ruling by EC will only disqualified K Pita and will not derailed the party. The party still remained as the leader of the coalition. In any case, EC disqualification should be investigated before the election; not after. Case is weak.

They surprised you; didn't they with the big win and became the lead party in the coalition. Most thought they were unicorn party full of fluff and will not achieve the hype generated. But they did the aspiration part and now on the verge of becoming the government. Sure they want to move quickly but have to pragmatic in their approach. Not their fault for not moving faster. They are braved enough to pledge for reforms of entrenched and difficult but necessary policies that have stagnated Thailand. I wish them the very best.

SET has nosedived last few days because of the election uncertainty created by Prayut's hairbrained constitution amendement to include the appointed senators to be involved in the election of the Prime Minister. Investors are not stupid.

Move Forward Party is just being fair to its coalition parties who hold different views on 112. They have not abandon reforming 112 but will exclude this for its first 100 days in office. The matter will be debated and dealt with when the Parliament convene. Bit harsh to call the MOU which contain a comprehensive list of progressive agenda which included bureaucracy reform, removing military conscription, plan for southern peace, fight against corruption, regulating cannabis and improving the education. By the way, they haven't start governing but you have declared they are doomed. That is quite animus towards the party who has the majority backing.

The separation of power in Thailand is rather grey. In the case of similar context of having shares in a media company, Thanathorn was disqualified as MP by the CC in about 9 months. By then, Thanathorn was already part of the House opposition. The party survive. About 3 months later, his loan to party case was found guilty and the party was dissolved. Party MPs formed new party (MFP) while some joined other existing political parties. So assuming the worst case, Pita will be disqualify but the party will remain and will still be the majority with the coalition in the House.

Perhaps MFP didn’t expect that they will win spectacularly or their inexperience not having push another candidate or even perhaps they don’t have leaders in their rank that have star power. Meanwhile PTP push 3 potential PM candidates. Wily party for sure. I’m my opinion, the case against Pita is very weak and I doubt EC will accept the case. Even if EC accept the case and the case is refer to the Constitution Court for judgement, it will take while for the case to be adjudicated. EC has only 60 days time frame to certify the election. The verdict will not affect the party. I doubt PTP will invite BJT if the PM goes to PTP. (Likely Sretha). Thaksin has not forgiven Newin’s betrayal. I agree with you that PTP will be taking stock of their poor performance and public sentiments and would be rather reckless to have a party from the pro military coalition. PTP will stick with their MFP coalition and it is impossible that any military coalition will have the House majority. IMO Prayut and Prawit are done with politics.