Prayut is taking unfair advantage

By The Nation

 

 

In ‘election mode’, the premier appears overly eager to spread public funds where he needs allies
 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s just-completed “working trip” to Buri Ram has further fuelled speculation about his political ambitions and possible return to power after the election. The atmosphere resembled that of a campaign stop at the 32,000-seat stadium where Buriram United Football Club is based and where General Prayut gave a well-received speech. 

 

Newin Chidchob, the football team’s chairman who has retained considerable influence in the Bhum Jai Thai Party, reportedly told the crowd before Prayut’s arrival that the louder they cheered him, the more money the Cabinet would allocate to the northeastern province. While he was there, Buri Ram made a pitch for billions of baht in state funds for development projects.

 

To critics of the ruling junta, Prayut’s visit was no more than his latest attempt to build a political alliance in preparation for possibly forming a coalition government after the election. It seemed to them that Thailand has now entered “election mode”. Requests for more than Bt20 billion in state funds for projects in Buri Ram and three neighbouring provinces were submitted at Tuesday’s mobile Cabinet meeting.

 

The junta chief and his post-coup government have come under fire for perceived attempts to “suck away” former MPs from established political parties into a new party being formed to keep Prayut on as prime minister after the election now expected in February. Prayut’s initial response to the claim was that wooing former or incumbent MPs ahead of an election was “normal practice” in Thai politics. But government figures later denied there had been any bids to promote defections. Any politicians mulling a move had approached Prayut, they said, not the other way around.

 

Soon after the 2014 coup in which he seized power, Prayut condemned politicians of questionable backgrounds, blaming them for many of the country’s problems. That stance now seems to be changing. His continuation in power clearly requires the support of as many political elements as possible, perhaps even some of those same “dirty politicians” he once condemned. Government jobs are on offer and state funds are being injected into provinces where the would-be allies wield influence.

 

It appears that the junta has donned a different guise. In staging the coup, it was the referee, ending the political violence. Now it’s a fully-fledged, game-on political player preparing to contest an election. 

 

Prayut is certainly within his rights in seeking to hold onto power via the ballot box, but it’s unfair to his rivals to seek support through state mechanisms. He is taking advantage of his status as government head and he is seeking a popularity boost at a time when members of established parties remain gagged by the junta ban on political activity.

 

Elected people in positions of power routinely take advantage of their status, just as he is, but Prayut is different in that he didn’t come to power through an election. As a non-elected government head, he should be far more careful in spending taxpayers’ money on development projects, financing only the ones that are beneficial to the people, not merely his political future. Tax money is not there to be frittered away on populist schemes or securing political influence.

 

We need a level playing field for all parties ahead of the election. For Prayut to try and raise his advantage is nothing more than a trick favoured by the dirty politicians he once denigrated.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/opinion/30345006

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-05-11

10 minutes ago, webfact said:

Now it’s a fully-fledged, game-on political player preparing to contest an election.

 

Now it’s a fully-fledged, game-on political player preparing to contest rig an election. 

 

No-one seems to mind though, so crack on lad....

19 minutes ago, webfact said:

It appears that the junta has donned a different guise. In staging the coup, it was the referee, ending the political violence. Now it’s a fully-fledged, game-on political player preparing to contest an election. 

thai people are Really going to vote for a guy who not very long ago asked 'why do you want democracy ?'; while clearly implying he was not a person who favored the vote-base democracy, now he asks for votes; really ?

55 minutes ago, webfact said:

Prayut is taking unfair advantage

 

Prayut claimed he launched the coup to clean up and reform Thai politics.

 

Anyone believe that?

 

Anyone?

 

Anyone?

 

Anyone?

 

Yeap, he’s doing it unfairly, buying votes and allowing corruption to go unchecked within his clique. 

 

Well done! 

 my wife looks like being paid again for voting,

just how much is the question and by whom will pay the highest.

What else can be expected from an all powerful, military dictator with complete control of law/ (in)justice system and S44? He is now showing his true colors and at least the Thais get a chance to see him for what he is.

If any Thai vote in anyone who pays for their vote, then the country will get the

corrupt government it truly deserves.  Shameful that any Thai person still thinks this

is how a democratic government is elected.

Geezer

Please dear posters let's be fair. If any other party suggest using money for any projects it's 'popularism' and must BE STOPPED. The government are only spending Billions because it's their job.  Get it? 

 

Prayut does it because he cares for Thai hearts and they are begging him to stay on as PM as for the others they are only seeking votes! 

 

Down with popularism up with 'spending for Thai hearts' 

Buying votes with taxpayers money,a trick he learnt from his nemesis

Thaksin,

regards  worgeordie

1 hour ago, YetAnother said:

thai people are Really going to vote for a guy who not very long ago asked 'why do you want democracy ?'; while clearly implying he was not a person who favored the vote-base democracy, now he asks for votes; really ?

Do you not understand what he is doing. 

He is using taxpayers money to give billions of baht to certain political figures for projects in their respective provinces. This project money benefits all major businesses in the area, which are usually owned by the influential figures. He is also offering key lucrative places in government posts. The people might vote a party that is not Prayut.  That party will win some seats but not enough to form the government. If say 4 of those small parties join their seats and team up with Prayuth with his taxpayers sweeteners, then Prayut will be the leader even if nobody actually voted for him. It is quite similar to how puea thai kept winning, though on a much larger scale with populist monies and at least puea thai did in fact have a large portion of the vote unlike Prayut. 

As I understand it anyway. 

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Prayut is taking unfair advantage

No shit sherlock ! and for the last 4 years

What the PM is doing is politically obscene and barefaced insulting to the Thai people.

Winnie the Pooh could win an election in Thailand if he had enough money to buy the votes. The PM has 100 million of taxpayers Thai Niyom money at his disposal just for for starters. Then he has the whole civil service as his support staff; whether they like it or not.

2 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

 

Prayut claimed he launched the coup to clean up and reform Thai politics.

 

Anyone believe that?

 

Anyone?

 

Anyone?

 

Anyone?

 

Anyone? Baerboxer

 

Anyone? Robblok

 

Anyone? Scorecard 

 

Anyone? Halloween

Prayut cheat.

That all.

I fear he will get away with it. Remember he unfairly took an entire country and it worked well for him.

His stance is now changing.... Surprise, surprise, surprise. Just another dishonourable so-called politician. Sad.

32 minutes ago, jerojero said:

His stance is now changing.... Surprise, surprise, surprise. Just another dishonourable so-called politician. Sad.

To be frank, he has not been much better before that......

Hardly unfair, simply using and abusing the power he gave himself.

3 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

 

Prayut claimed he launched the coup to clean up and reform Thai politics.

 

Anyone believe that?

 

Anyone?

 

Anyone?

 

Anyone?

 

Well if you ignore the last four words it is very true, cash wise that is!

2 hours ago, worgeordie said:

Buying votes with taxpayers money,a trick he learnt from his nemesis

Thaksin,

regards  worgeordie

Doesn't guarantee election win. If can, junta with elites and big corporations wealth would have easily finance a Dem Party win every election.   

More The Grinch that stole the election .

2 hours ago, worgeordie said:

Buying votes with taxpayers money,a trick he learnt from his nemesis

Thaksin,

regards  worgeordie

All elections from forever have paid for votes in Thailand...Thaksin didn't invent this method of electioneering, this has been the norm for decades and will never change!

Of course he is being unfair, he openly states he knows what is best for Thailand, he now has to convince the 70 odd million Thais of that as well and that as one of his predecessors knows only to well means BUYING THEM 

22 minutes ago, Cadbury said:

What the PM is doing is politically obscene and barefaced insulting to the Thai people.

Winnie the Pooh could win an election in Thailand if he had enough money to buy the votes. The PM has 100 million of taxpayers Thai Niyom money at his disposal just for for starters. Then he has the whole civil service as his support staff; whether they like it or not.

20 billion for buri rom.

100 million for thai Niyom was just an appetiser. Then the trillions in rail projects. Trillions for army purchases to sweeten foreign countries. 

Did anyone actually calculate the full communalative cost of all of this and say where the money is actually  going to come from? 

Great article. How did the junta allow it to be released? 

Gee, tough headline. I can imagine the Nation's hardbitten  editorial team thinking for hours on how to really hit the junta where it hurts. Prayuth cheats. Prayuth rigs election. Prayuth sham election. Nah, he's taking "unfair advantage". Like being savaged by a dead sheep.

5 hours ago, worgeordie said:

Buying votes with taxpayers money,a trick he learnt from his nemesis

Thaksin,

regards  worgeordie

Absolutely, however Thaksin had a solid mandate from the Thai electorate. No taxpayer ever casted a vote for Prayuth. 

 

Not to mention that it now is undeniable that the touted reasons for the coup were nothing but lies. This is a classic case of the cure being worse than the disease.

 

One wonders why Prayuth is even trying to stay PM. The unfair advantage is already enshrined into the constitution. The NCPO appointed senate and the 20 year roadmap already ensures any PM and subsequently  any government is highly  constrained I what they actually can achieve. 

 

 

I think Prayuth has lost it, and I wouldn't be surprised if the people  that are pulling his strings will get rid of him well before the election. 

10 hours ago, pornprong said:

Anyone? Baerboxer

 

Anyone? Robblok

 

Anyone? Scorecard 

 

Anyone? Halloween

steven100?

10 hours ago, pornprong said:

Anyone? Baerboxer

 

Anyone? Robblok

 

Anyone? Scorecard 

 

Anyone? Halloween

 

 

And answer came there none.

 

To nobody's surprise.