herfiehandbag

She, and her friends, and the, literally millions like her want to turn their society into a modern, pluralist progressive one. They are in a majority. Why should she ( and they) pack up and leave?

Perhaps, just perhaps, MFP (and Pheu Thai for that matter) realised from the start, before the election, that they would never be allowed anywhere near government. So they will make as much trouble and noise as possible, to provoke a popular uprising which will bring down the whole rotten, corrupt, gerrymandered system. Playing the long game.

Wissanu a shoe in for Ratty. Mole a creature of wisdom and experience - Prayut?

The obvious candidate - as the OP states, an avuncular figure, well matured in service to the Nation. Some 40 years as an infantry officer - the very model of a lean mean steely eyed killer. Yet also a man who çombines his martial ardour with cultivating many interests and hobbies, a man who studies even whilst engaged in perilous demanding missions in the service of his country - why even when deployed along the Cambodian/Thai border during the campaign to secure the area from the ravages of the Khmer Rouge he made time to develop a keen interest in matters as diverse as local forestry practices and the gemstone industry. More recently a discreet devotion to the classical arts of horology have become known, though as ever his modest and unassuming nature limits widespread discussion of his efforts in this field. It would be unfortunate if the demands of political service preclude him from participating in the Disney Corporation's long planned remake of " The Wind in the Willows" for the South East Asian market! A true polymath, a man of his times! "Poop poop"!

State of Emergency.

I have a daughter, she turns 18 on Sunday. She is idealistic, hates corruption, and wants to live in a modern, pluralist and progressive country. So do her friends. There are millions like her. They predominantly voted for MFP. I want my daughter to realise her dreams. I don't have a vote, but I certainly have a dog in this fight!

No, he has to get more votes than the other candidates. Hold on a moment...

Which is more, significantly more, than voted for anyone else.

At the moment. I should imagine fixing that is very much on the top of the caretaker government's to do list. Stand by for Wissanu Krea-ngam to start pontificating on the need to amend the arrangements for the selection and duties of the Senate!

The current Senators terms in office expire in May 2024. The government effectively "own" the constitutional court - I don't think that would pose a problem!

Love him or hate him, he probably has the best overview ( intelligence network and contacts) of the current Thai political situation. He has likely concluded that his implacable enemies are staying in place.

I understand that whilst the Senate holds the effective veto over tha appointment of a Prime Minister it does not have a role in the decisions of the House of Representatives once the government is formed. So the MFP/Pheu Thai coalition could function. Giving the appointed Senate a role in the everyday role of parliament would have been too contentious and obvious a "fix" when the current constitution was being "eased" into place. Mind you, that may well be revisited. I suspect that before "fresh elections" are held the "long term caretaker government" will be busy sorting out the new Senate and it's powers. That is why I anticipate they will engineer a years delay to "resolve the constitutional crisis". Prayut has of course left politics, but there remains the somnolent elder statesman, with (literally) plenty of time on his hands (wrists) to guide the nation!

Let us not forget: MFP and Pita received significantly more votes than any party or candidate in the election. Within days they had put in place a coalition which commanded a very clear majority of the elected representatives. This "failure to gain sufficient votes" was simply the result of the unelected senate, junta members and cronies, blocking the clearly stated will of the electorate. It has no arguable legitimacy, whether that be from amongst the Thai political establishment or the junta enthusiasts on this board.

Because they have every intention of still being in place in the year to come.

Time will tell.

Oh it will, don't worry. Fresh elections will be needed of course, when the time is right, at the appropriate juncture, when the necessary groundwork has been done. Never let it be said that democracy will be ignored, just that certain, adjustment (?), need to be made, for the good of the nation.

It will certainly"make the news"!

Presumably they were out celebrating him graduating from a special course - no one could be such an idiot naturally!

Yes. They banned one (opposition) party which was doing well in the polls shortly before the election. They pulled the same stunt over media shares with the leader of Future Forward ( Move Forward's forerunner) when they did well in that election, banning him from politics for 10 years, and then came up with some reason to dissolve the party. All about corruption and cronyism apparently - if I remember it was shortly after Prayut had appointed his brother to the Senate, and given a very lucrative contract to supply the Army to his nephew!

Which is why it is (from the establishment's point of view) such an excellent piece of legislation.

They can drag their feet whilst they ban, disband and make ineligible the opposition parties, and buy time to select a fresh Senate and equip it with the appropriate powers. With the courts in the mix, petitions to be heard, cases pending and some constructive ( obstructive) management then ten months should be possible.

Or taking part in a TV cooking show...

Refusing to accept the election result, and a solution under which the current regime remain in power is more likely to destroy Thailand.

Without doubt - it is a coalition. Pheu Thai will have a big say in things.

Makes sense. Those in real power are essentially businessmen!