Thaksin points out why some former MPs are leaving Pheu Thai

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Thaksin points out why some former MPs are leaving Pheu Thai

 

 

Fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has explained to his supporters why some former MPs are leaving Pheu Thai for other parties, saying they may be doing it for money or may be too confident in themselves.

 

In a video call on Friday afternoon to his supporters, Thaksin said those leaving Pheu Thai may be doing so for two reasons.

 

“I am thinking about sending a Twitter message to thank them for leaving Pheu Thai. In doing so they are like giving people of the new generation a chance to get elected as people’s representatives.”

 

“There are two reasons for them to be leaving. First, they want a large sum of money from those who are foolish enough to pay them — only to quit politics after taking the money. Second, they are too confident in themselves, forgetting that in the past they were elected because of the party’s name,” Thaksin said to his supporters.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/thaksin-points-former-mps-leaving-pheu-thai/

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2018-06-23

 

 

[AGareth2]

rats leaving a sinking ship

perhaps

[robblok]

11 minutes ago, AGareth2 said:

rats leaving a sinking ship

perhaps

 Seems the PTP is starting to worry. That is what you get when you got mercenaries and pay them off.. the risk is always there that someone comes with a better offer.

 

Now I am not sure how I feel about this as I dislike PTP and Junta.. bit between two devils fighting. It does show something I have long thought to be true about the PTP that their MP's are in it for the money and will switch sides if they think its profitable. 

 

Also it seems that that in general voters are loyal to the MP's not so much to the party because its the MP's that get things done for them. This could be real painful for the PTP if many leave, that with Prayut his courting of Newin might give him enough political support to get in power democratically (if we can call it that).

 

I had hoped for people joining the new party future forward, but I don't think as many will join that party as I like to see.

Edited June 23, 2018 by robblok

[Eric Loh]

Expensive endeavor by the junta to buy loyalty of politicians who has not won before. Paying 50 m baht upfront and a promise of 500k per month to bait the politicians will add up to quite a large sum. Wonder where the junta gets those big bucks and for the boss to wear those branded expensive scarf and sunglass. 

 

[robblok]

5 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

Expensive endeavor by the junta to buy loyalty of politicians who has not won before. Paying 50 m baht upfront and a promise of 500k per month to bait the politicians will add up to quite a large sum. Wonder where the junta gets those big bucks and for the boss to wear those branded expensive scarf and sunglass. 

 

Yea... can you imagine what they got from Thaksin before to stay.. should not be minor either.. I mean otherwise everyone would already defect. Does show to me that payment of Thaksin is confirmed to his people.. he is just outbid.. and this is how mercenaries respond when they get a better offer. I like the irony of this ... but I rather not see the junta win. But also don't want Thaksin to win.. so it seems I will be dissatisfied either way. 

Edited June 23, 2018 by robblok

[anon7867763]

Well, he's not lying in this case. It's probably 100% true

[bannork]

3 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

Expensive endeavor by the junta to buy loyalty of politicians who has not won before. Paying 50 m baht upfront and a promise of 500k per month to bait the politicians will add up to quite a large sum. Wonder where the junta gets those big bucks and for the boss to wear those branded expensive scarf and sunglass. 

 

What do you mean not won before?

They are ex Pheua Thai MPs .

[Eric Loh]

15 minutes ago, bannork said:

What do you mean not won before?

They are ex Pheua Thai MPs .

Mr Phumtham said from the list of 40-50 former MPs reported to be leaving Pheu Thai, most of them had run under the party banner but failed for many times. They are only former Pheu Thai members with little role to play, he added.

 

Next time take time to read. 

[bannork]

3 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

Mr Phumtham said from the list of 40-50 former MPs reported to be leaving Pheu Thai, most of them had run under the party banner but failed for many times. They are only former Pheu Thai members with little role to play, he added.

 

Next time take time to read. 

You think the junta is willing to pay 500,000 baht per month to MP candidates that have failed many times??

55555

Perhaps Mr Phumtham is trying to look on the bright side of things.

[ramrod711]

4 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

First, they want a large sum of money from those who are foolish enough to pay them — only to quit politics after taking the money.

I believe him, he was the one paying them, so he should know. Did he really expect them to be loyal after he lied to them about joining them on the streets of Bangkok in 2010. If you want to keep them in line you have to give them more than sacks of rotten rice and empty promises.

[bannork]

4 minutes ago, ramrod711 said:

I believe him, he was the one paying them, so he should know. Did he really expect them to be loyal after he lied to them about joining them on the streets of Bangkok in 2010. If you want to keep them in line you have to give them more than sacks of rotten rice and empty promises.

I remember him skyping in to the protestors at Ratchaphrasong.

Something along the lines of: Once the first bullet is fired, I will join you in the front line.

And when the bullets started flying ,where was he? 

In an exclusive shopping mall in Paris!

[klauskunkel]

Ex-PM's expert explanation:

maybe they do it because of this, or maybe because of that...

 

[overherebc]

17 hours ago, robblok said:

 Seems the PTP is starting to worry. That is what you get when you got mercenaries and pay them off.. the risk is always there that someone comes with a better offer.

 

Now I am not sure how I feel about this as I dislike PTP and Junta.. bit between two devils fighting. It does show something I have long thought to be true about the PTP that their MP's are in it for the money and will switch sides if they think its profitable. 

 

Also it seems that that in general voters are loyal to the MP's not so much to the party because its the MP's that get things done for them. This could be real painful for the PTP if many leave, that with Prayut his courting of Newin might give him enough political support to get in power democratically (if we can call it that).

 

I had hoped for people joining the new party future forward, but I don't think as many will join that party as I like to see.

MP's all over the world are in it for the money.

[robblok]

2 minutes ago, overherebc said:

MP's all over the world are in it for the money.

Maybe your right.. but its Thaksin people who are defecting.. the once always accused of being in it for the money and already receiving money. Personally i see this defecting as confirmation of their mercenary status and this increases the likelihood they were paid before by Thaksin. 

[bannork]

It should be pointed out an MP in Thailand need a lot of cash. Funerals and weddings of constituents must be attended with the obligatory white envelope. Then there are the canvassers, village heads, locals, all need cash for various activities.

An MP cannot really be poor in Thailand.

[FritsSikkink]

“There are two reasons for them to be leaving. First, they want a large sum of money from those who are foolish enough to pay them — only to quit politics after taking the money.

 

Does this mean somebody paid them to join his party?

Edited June 24, 2018 by FritsSikkink

[Briggsy]

2 minutes ago, bannork said:

It should be pointed out an MP in Thailand need a lot of cash. Funerals and weddings of constituents must be attended with the obligatory white envelope. Then there are the canvassers, village heads, locals, all need cash for various activities.

An MP cannot really be poor in Thailand.

Agreed, expenses are high. Therefore income has to well exceed these high expenses. The whole system is based on cash flows within a patronage system, there are no political ideals or policy strategies. These are fully left to career civil servants who may or may not deal with them.

[Briggsy]

2 minutes ago, bannork said:

It should be pointed out an MP in Thailand need a lot of cash. Funerals and weddings of constituents must be attended with the obligatory white envelope. Then there are the canvassers, village heads, locals, all need cash for various activities.

An MP cannot really be poor in Thailand.

Agreed, expenses are high. Therefore income has to well exceed these high expenses. The whole system is based on cash flows within a patronage system, there are no political ideals or policy strategies. These are fully left to career civil servants who may or may not deal with them.

[Briggsy]

7 minutes ago, bannork said:

It should be pointed out an MP in Thailand need a lot of cash. Funerals and weddings of constituents must be attended with the obligatory white envelope. Then there are the canvassers, village heads, locals, all need cash for various activities.

An MP cannot really be poor in Thailand.

Agreed, expenses are high. Therefore income has to well exceed these high expenses. The whole system is based on cash flows within a patronage system, there are no political ideals or policy strategies. These are fully left to career civil servants who may or may not deal with them.

[Vacuum]

Why is this guy not arrested?

[overherebc]

7 minutes ago, Vacuum said:

Why is this guy not arrested?

???

[Krataiboy]

Surely there must be something in the new Constitution to stop politicians being bribed to leave one political party for another, if indeed this is what is happening.

 

If not, it needs amending - and fast, with a general election only months away.

[lanista]

There are only two things that matter in Thailand.

Making money

Making alot more money.

 

Thai's enter politics to make alot of money. If theyre leaving a billionaires front party then there's a money problem.

Won't have anything to do with idealogy or principles because Thais have neither.

 

Edited June 24, 2018 by lanista

[Briggsy]

6 minutes ago, Krataiboy said:

Surely there must be something in the new Constitution to stop politicians being bribed to leave one political party for another, if indeed this is what is happening.

 

If not, it needs amending - and fast, with a general election only months away.

How can you amend the very fabric of society? The patronage system is the underpinning of Thai society, not a Christian morality nor individual rights. Anybody in a position of authority who doesn't rent-seek is seen as an oddity and rather foolish. Wealth, status and position remain tightly linked.

 

I would even say politicians are not being "bribed" but simply they work in factions and find the best reward/(risk + effort) ratio and go with it. You do understand that they have to pay out very considerably as well as taking cash. To gain a block vote of a village of 1000 people might take an investment of 200,000 Baht at election time. Those "canvassers" who work as the go-betweens ensuring a village votes one way or another and are very regularly killed don't work for free, you know, and the villagers will expect a few hundred each and a party with free booze for their vote.

[hansnl]

19 hours ago, AGareth2 said:

rats leaving a sinking ship

perhaps

Better pay likely.

[hansnl]

28 minutes ago, lanista said:

There are only two things that matter in Thailand.

Making money

Making alot more money.

 

Thai's enter politics to make alot of money. If theyre leaving a billionaires front party then there's a money problem.

Won't have anything to do with idealogy or principles because Thais have neither.

 

Politicians, anywhere in the world, go into politics for either power, or money or a combination of the two.

Principles and ideology are just commodities.

And, face it, making money is the only thing that matters in the long run.

Anywhere!

In your country and in my country and I guess also in Thailand.

Edited June 24, 2018 by hansnl

[Krataiboy]

33 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

How can you amend the very fabric of society? The patronage system is the underpinning of Thai society, not a Christian morality nor individual rights. Anybody in a position of authority who doesn't rent-seek is seen as an oddity and rather foolish. Wealth, status and position remain tightly linked.

 

I would even say politicians are not being "bribed" but simply they work in factions and find the best reward/(risk + effort) ratio and go with it. You do understand that they have to pay out very considerably as well as taking cash. To gain a block vote of a village of 1000 people might take an investment of 200,000 Baht at election time. Those "canvassers" who work as the go-betweens ensuring a village votes one way or another and are very regularly killed don't work for free, you know, and the villagers will expect a few hundred each and a party with free booze for their vote.

But surely you believe, as doubtless do millions of members of the Thai electorate, what the good General has been telling us about his determination to stamp out corruption?

[charmonman]

15 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

Mr Phumtham said from the list of 40-50 former MPs reported to be leaving Pheu Thai, most of them had run under the party banner but failed for many times. They are only former Pheu Thai members with little role to play, he added.

 

Next time take time to read. 

If they were never elected they shouldn’t be referred to as “former MPs “.

[Briggsy]

59 minutes ago, Krataiboy said:

But surely you believe, as doubtless do millions of members of the Thai electorate, what the good General has been telling us about his determination to stamp out corruption?

The good General is correct. When he does it or members of his clique, it is not corruption by his definition. When his enemies do it, it is corruption. So he has stamped out corruption by his definition.

[Baerboxer]

17 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

Mr Phumtham said from the list of 40-50 former MPs reported to be leaving Pheu Thai, most of them had run under the party banner but failed for many times. They are only former Pheu Thai members with little role to play, he added.

 

Next time take time to read. 

 

Must be true Eric, if a Pheu Thai acting secretary said so eh?

 

Did you seriously expect him to say different?