Prayut leaves door open over joining party prior to election

By The Nation

 

 

Junta leader General Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday did not rule out the possibility of him joining a political party in order to return to power after the next general election.

 

The prime minister was reluctant to say whether he would become an ‘outsider’ premier after the election, as allowed under the current charter’s mechanisms.

 

“I actually want [parties] to propose the names of others before coming to me. Don’t centre on me,” he said.

 

With more assemblies pressing the junta to hold an election without further delay, Prayut threatened to continue tracking whether those involved had any connections with political parties.

 

“This would affect such parties in the future. We won’t obstruct anything, but they should also understand that we have a clear election time line already,” he said, adding “I don’t think their intention is entirely pure.”

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30341891

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-03-28

39 minutes ago, webfact said:

Prayut leaves door open over joining party prior to election

 

But, too cowardly to run himself...

 

Like it or not, every Thai leader for the next 30-40 years is going to be compared to both Thaksin and/or Yingluck who achieved legitimate, popular mandate(s) from the people. And any leader who comes to power without such a mandate is going to be considered... less.

 

Congratulations Prayut! Using your daring and courage to its fullest...

 

...The best that you can possibly do is LESS than Yingluck. 

 

What proud times...

 

 

Edited March 27, 20188 yr by Samui Bodoh
Lack of coffee

46 minutes ago, webfact said:

he said, adding “I don’t think their intention is entirely pure.”

are we yet at the point of saying: 'anyone but him' to lead us in the future ? imagine 5 more years of this guy

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Don’t centre on me,” he said.

 

No-one is, except you :)

3 hours ago, YetAnother said:

are we yet at the point of saying: 'anyone but him' to lead us in the future ? imagine 5 more years of this guy

Hmm, I'd rather not.

 

Nice smile, charming sexy boy! Actually, most people have misunderstood him. What he will do is wait until after the vote and then appoint himself as leader of the winning party of course.

2 minutes ago, jonstarjon said:

Nice smile, charming sexy boy! Actually, most people have misunderstood him. What he will do is wait until after the vote and then appoint himself as leader of the winning party of course.

I think you must have played this game before. You're having a Nostradamus moment.

 

Prayut afraid run in election.

Brave man!

Doesn't that smug face in the photo cry out to be slapped?!

And as usual, we get all the veiled threats from him ('tracking' people who disagree with him), basically saying that if you don't do as you are told and as I wish you to do, you will end up in hot water. 'I'm not threatening you, mind', he implies- ha ha!

 

Well, as I keep saying: if the Thais (and there are nearly 70 million of them) put up with all of this, then let them lick it all up, love it, wallow in it, bow and scrape, fawn and grovel, prostrate and cut off their own human dignity - they've done that well enough over the past 4 years, and there is little sign of their doing anything much different IN SUFFICIENT NUMBERS in the coming year ....

 

Enjoy your servitude, Thais. You have gone along with it all (the vast majority of you) - every single step of the way without demur.

 

 

Edited March 28, 20188 yr by Eligius

5 hours ago, webfact said:

“I actually want [parties] to propose the names of others before coming to me. Don’t centre on me,” he said.

What he really said: " We are going to refuse all other candidates, it is about me, me, me, me, me......

5 hours ago, webfact said:

We won’t obstruct anything, but they should also understand that we have a clear election time line already,” he said, adding “I don’t think their intention is entirely pure.”

"Clear election time line already"

If I remember correctly, the date has been changed 4 times already....

 

And anyone not agreeing with The Master.......their intentions are not pure...

5 hours ago, webfact said:

We won’t obstruct anything, but they should also understand that we have a clear election time line already,” he said, 

And from another article today.....

“We don’t know how long the court will take to review the bill and if they rule it is unconstitutional, the amendment will take some time. So, the election will definitely be delayed"

7 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

But, too cowardly to run himself...

Yeah, push him, close the door......and throw away the key...

My mother always told me Leave the door open for a quick escape ! just saying

7 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

But, too cowardly to run himself...

 

He can't run for election as he has to resign from his post within 90 days after the new charter become effective. The charter is now 11 months, it is impossible for him to stand in the next poll.

 

He could be the premier as leader of a political party under article 88 of the charter, which states each party is required to name a maximum of 3 premiership candidates. He can be nominated by a party contesting in the election. So watch of he will join any political party for clue.

 

Then there is still the outside clause in the highly military favoured charter that allow a political party to name an outsider to be prime minister  and with support of the senate house, he return to power. That is if the Dem Party will again betray the people by joining the appointed senators to appoint him. IMHO, he unlikely to be PM under the above circumstance. 

4 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

He can't run for election as he has to resign from his post within 90 days after the new charter become effective. The charter is now 11 months, it is impossible for him to stand in the next poll.

 

He could be the premier as leader of a political party under article 88 of the charter, which states each party is required to name a maximum of 3 premiership candidates. He can be nominated by a party contesting in the election. So watch of he will join any political party for clue.

 

Then there is still the outside clause in the highly military favoured charter that allow a political party to name an outsider to be prime minister  and with support of the senate house, he return to power. That is if the Dem Party will again betray the people by joining the appointed senators to appoint him. IMHO, he unlikely to be PM under the above circumstance. 

What is stopping him just ignoring ignoring the rules and regulations and doing whatever the hell he wants? It wouldn't exactly be the first time...

1 minute ago, baboon said:

What is stopping him just ignoring ignoring the rules and regulations and doing whatever the hell he wants? It wouldn't exactly be the first time...

Exactly, Baboon! I am AMAZED that people still think any kind of law is being followed here. THERE IS NO LAW HERE! That is to say: any law is infinitely flexible, infinitely interpretable, infinitely distortable, infinitely ignorable - as it suits the Dinosaur in Chief. 

 

For Goodness' sake, people: this is a LAWLESS land - never more so than under the junta!

1 minute ago, baboon said:

What is stopping him just ignoring ignoring the rules and regulations and doing whatever the hell he wants? It wouldn't exactly be the first time...

Rules and regulation he can ignored and break with 44 but not the constitution. Well unless he plan another referendum for another charter the-write. 

1 minute ago, Eric Loh said:

Rules and regulation he can ignored and break with 44 but not the constitution. Well unless he plan another referendum for another charter the-write. 

They can tear up the 'Constitution' any time they see fit - it means ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. They are already ignoring some of its provisions. And we must remember that the 'Constitution' that was allegedly 'voted in' by 63% of the Thai people (I don't believe it for a moment, but that is what we are told) was already later amended - without consultation of the Thais, to whom 'sovereignty belongs' - by someone I will not name.

     THIS IS A LAWLESS LAND (where the word 'law' truly  has no sensible meaning whatsoever - it is just a sound, a sign, a nothing - used by those with POWER  to intimidate the powerless).

12 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

He can't run for election as he has to resign from his post within 90 days after the new charter become effective. The charter is now 11 months, it is impossible for him to stand in the next poll.

 

He could be the premier as leader of a political party under article 88 of the charter, which states each party is required to name a maximum of 3 premiership candidates. He can be nominated by a party contesting in the election. So watch of he will join any political party for clue.

 

Then there is still the outside clause in the highly military favoured charter that allow a political party to name an outsider to be prime minister  and with support of the senate house, he return to power. That is if the Dem Party will again betray the people by joining the appointed senators to appoint him. IMHO, he unlikely to be PM under the above circumstance. 

Thanks for the post; informative as always!

 

However, my goal/post was actually making a different point.

 

My focus was on the lack of courage in not competing to become a Member of Parliament as it normally done in a parliamentary system. You are correct that he cannot run (now) and and would have had to resign before, but my point is that as he has been "all-powerful" for the last several years, he easily could have engineered circumstances whereby he was legally permitted to contest the election. He chose not to do so.

 

The above is why I believe that Thai history will always consider him, win or lose, as something less than legitimate and something more of a 'thug'. The standard of legitimacy was set twice this century by Thaksin and Yingluck; freely and fairly elected (as much as possible in Thailand) to the position of Prime Minister by the Thai people.

 

Prayut, through his choices, can not ever meet that high status.

 

PS I share your dislike of the Dem party, but can I suggest not worrying too much about it now? In my culture (and perhaps here; I don't know) there is an old political adage;

 

A week is a long time in politics.

 

There is plenty of time to get angry at the Dems later, assuming that they deserve it.

 

Cheers

2 minutes ago, Eligius said:

They can tear up the 'Constitution' any time they see fit - it means ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. They are already ignoring some of its provisions. And we must remember that the 'Constitution' that was allegedly 'voted in' by 63% of the Thai people (I don't believe it for a moment, but that is what we are told) was already later amended - without consultation of the Thais, to whom 'sovereignty belongs' - by someone I will not name.

     THIS IS A LAWLESS LAND (where the word 'law' truly  has no sensible meaning whatsoever - it is just a sound, a sign, a nothing - used by those with POWER  to intimidate the powerless).

Fully understand your point; what the establishment and military want, they get. The amendments were pre royal endorsement. Just think it will be harder and will raise such a uproar that may bring the masses to the streets. Something the junta may not wish to risk.

 

9 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

Rules and regulation he can ignored and break with 44 but not the constitution. Well unless he plan another referendum for another charter the-write. 

I am afraid you have more faith in it than I do, Eric. It is just a piece of paper which commands no troops; a tool for the Haves to use against the Have Nots as and when it is convenient. 

Just now, baboon said:

I am afraid you have more faith in it than I do, Eric. It is just a piece of paper which commands no troops; a tool for the Haves to use against the Have Nots as and when it is convenient. 

Put me down with Eric on this one.

 

Three times this century alone, the Thai people have come to the streets to fight for their political point of view.

 

Why do you think, if the Thai people believe things aren't right, that they won't again?

 

The past is a prologue to the present...

 

2 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

Fully understand your point; what the establishment and military want, they get. The amendments were pre royal endorsement. Just think it will be harder and will raise such a uproar that may bring the masses to the streets. Something the junta may not wish to risk.

 

Unfortunately, my hands are tied here (you will understand why, Eric)  -  but I can only say that certain changes were later made to the Constitution which NO ONE in this land can argue with or dare whisper against. I dare not mention any names ...

 

You are right, though, that the junta seem to be really risking uprisings from the Thais if they (the junta) carry on as they are. I don't think enough Thais will rebel to throw out this bunch of dinosaurs  - but there will be sufficient to give the junta a headache!

3 minutes ago, Samui Bodoh said:

Put me down with Eric on this one.

 

Three times this century alone, the Thai people have come to the streets to fight for their political point of view.

 

Why do you think, if the Thai people believe things aren't right, that they won't again?

 

The past is a prologue to the present...

 

It could indeed well be that Eric is right. However after four years of the exercise of arbitrary power (which they call "law"), I have become something of an arch cynic, albeit a good-looking one.

33 minutes ago, baboon said:

It could indeed well be that Eric is right. However after four years of the exercise of arbitrary power (which they call "law"), I have become something of an arch cynic, albeit a good-looking one.

I am not sure what an "arch cynic" looks like nor what a "good-looking one" is....

 

I will assume that it is Baboon-like... 

 

The point here is that Prayut needs legitimacy, and he needs legitimacy from a relatively large majority of the Thai people. If he doesn't get it, then it is a case of either "hit the road, Jack" or oppression and gradual decline of the country; think Burma next door, but remember that it took a very long time to get so bad.

 

In order to get 'Legitimacy', there needs to be a reasonably 'free and fair' process. What exactly does that look like? I do not know; that is a decision that the Thai people will make in their own way/manner.

 

What we are seeing, and what we will see for the next while, is a game of "chicken". The Junta will do everything that it can do to cheat (Yellow and Green ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS cheat) and the opposition will try to take part in a process because they know that they have the numbers. 

 

Who'll win? Don't know.

 

Buckle up!

Edited March 28, 20188 yr by Samui Bodoh
Lack of coffee

40 minutes ago, Samui Bodoh said:

I am not sure what an "arch cynic" looks like nor what a "good-looking one" is....

 

I will assume that it is Baboon-like... 

 

The point here is that Prayut needs legitimacy, and he needs legitimacy from a relatively large majority of the Thai people. If he doesn't get it, then it is a case of either "hit the road, Jack" or oppression and gradual decline of the country; think Burma next door, but remember that it took a very long time to get so bad.

 

In order to get 'Legitimacy', there needs to be a reasonably 'free and fair' process. What exactly does that look like? I do not know; that is a decision that the Thai people will make in their own way/manner.

 

What we are seeing, and what we will see for the next while, is a game of "chicken". The Junta will do everything that it can do to cheat (Yellow and Green ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS cheat) and the opposition will try to take part in a process because they know that they have the numbers. 

 

Who'll win? Don't know.

 

Buckle up!

A splendid debate. I feel like I'm in a boxing ring, with 4 corners, but I'm not sure how many sides . . .one, two or two-and-a-half?

Edited March 28, 20188 yr by Ossy
clarity

1 minute ago, Ossy said:

A splendid debate. I feel like I'm in a boxing ring . . . with 4 corners, but I'm not sure how many sides.

Good one, Ossy! 

I think we are all basically on the same side - and it ain't on the side of the junta!

3 hours ago, sawadee1947 said:

Yeah, push him, close the door......and throw away the key...

Before push, trip! 

11 hours ago, webfact said:

“I actually want [parties] to propose the names of others before coming to me.

Doesn't the new political election law require in part a primary voting system that calls for each registered party's branches or representatives nationwide to hold a primary election to select MP candidates?

https://www.pressreader.com/thailand/the-nation/20170628/281603830477572

The parties must then distribute name lists of partylist MPs to the branches and representatives for considerations on regional and gender diversity. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30318198

As such, I don't see how Prayut can reserve himself through some kind of informal process as (what I understand) a last minute candidate for any party. And even if he was able to do so, ie., through his absolute power to ignore laws, he must still subject himself to a primary party vote.