Prayut has backing of many political parties to return as PM, says Sontirat

By THE NATION 

 

 

MANY POLITICAL parties have expressed their desire that General Prayut Chan-o-cha return as prime minister after the next election, a government minister linked to a new pro-Prayut party said yesterday.
 

Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong said that he had met with politicians on different occasions, including during this week’s Cabinet retreat in Ubon Ratchathani province. He added that he had discussed with them what should be done for the country. 

 

Sontirat said that in Ubon early this week he met Supol Fong-ngam, a former Pheu Thai Party MP for the northeastern province. 

Supol defected from Pheu Thai and voiced his support for Prime Minister Prayut.

 

Sontirat said the government needed to talk with and listen to politicians, because politicians are close to the people. Input from politicians allows the government to learn about the needs of people in different areas of the country, he added.

 

Such information would help the government to determine what should be done during its remaining time in power, said the commerce minister.

 

“We [the government] have to work with all sides. In fact, many political parties want General Prayut to be prime minister [again].

 

But what we have to do is to make sure that the different parties have the chance to help push this government’s policies continuously, such as the mega-projects like the Eastern Economic Corridor [EEC],” Sontirat said.

 

“We want government policies to be implemented without interruptions. We want the country to move forward,” Sontirat said. “One of the problems of our country is lack of continuity in government policies. And that’s a weak point for Thailand.”

 

He did not confirm his reported connection with Palang Pracharat, a political party in the making whose founders are planning to nominate Prayut as their prime ministerial candidate at the next election.

 

Sontirat dismissed as a rumour media reports that he was going to become secretary-general of Palang Pracharat.

 

“When I am ready to accept the position, I will tell the media. I have not made my decision,” he said.

 

When asked about the progress of the new party in the making, Sontirat said he would talk to the media about the matter “when the time is right”. He added that he would base his decision on the future situation.

 

Meanwhile, Prayut, who also heads the ruling junta National Council for Peace and Order, yesterday said that the public “should not allow bad people to besiege Government House again”.

 

The PM did not elaborate, but he was clearly referring to anti-government protesters who often gathered around the government head’s office to press their demands.

 

Most previous governments over the past decade shared the same experience, with rival yellow-shirt and red-shirt protesters taking turns to rally outside Government House.

 

Prayut was speaking to a group of people helping clean the perimeter walls of the premises. “We are cleaning up Government House already. Don’t allow bad people to surround it again,” he said.

 

The premier also said that his actions had no political motives, as he aimed to create benefits for the country as a whole.

 

“This government has no desire to benefit anyone in particular,” he added. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30350913

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-07-27

7 minutes ago, webfact said:

 

Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong said that he had met with politicians on different occasions, including during this week’s Cabinet retreat in Ubon Ratchathani province. He added that he had discussed with them what should be done for the country. 

I thought we were told those cabinet meetings weren’t about party politics. 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

He added that he had discussed with them what should be done for the country. 

glad theyve  all decided on that then, why waste time with a vote now

Just a wild guess that Phue Thai is not one of them!

 

A huge farce, no point in any "election" under the current circumstances.

It is a complete farce: Until all parties are able to compete on a level playing field and present their policies and plans to the public for them to decide. This is just another fool getting his 5 minutes in the political spotlight spouting the juntas party line with even more vim than the fool that had his 5 minutes yesterday.

 

The public are going to be the ones who choose the PM not these life long beuraucats that think they know best.

 

I think it would be darkly funny if Prayut became PM when he actually has an opposition attacking him in parliment. A very different monster than the nodding dogs he has now. 

 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

 

Such information would help the government to determine what should be done during its remaining time in power,

A hell of a lot more than they have done up to now !

Sonitrat you are only after a place in the trough.

 

1) It is the electorate who should decide, not the political parties.

 

2) Burma had continuity in government. Zimbabwe had continuity in government. Worked out well...

 

The need for continuity in government is a very strong argument when you are a member of the government.

 

If the government of which you are a member is a junta government, installed by a coup which forestalled a constitutional election, it is probably central to your wish and intention to engineer holding onto power.

 

As an argument it withers rapidly when faced with the realisation that the electorate do not wish for you to remain in power. That is why we can be sure, like Burma and Zimbabwe over past decades, the electorate will be prevented from expressing that wish, or if by some chance they do, the results will peculiarly not reflect that.

Edited July 27, 20188 yr by JAG

And still my Issan friends can't stand him!

24 minutes ago, jonclark said:

It is a complete farce: Until all parties are able to compete on a level playing field and present their policies and plans to the public for them to decide. This is just another fool getting his 5 minutes in the political spotlight spouting the juntas party line with even more vim than the fool that had his 5 minutes yesterday.

 

The public are going to be the ones who choose the PM not these life long beuraucats that think they know best.

 

I think it would be darkly funny if Prayut became PM when he actually has an opposition attacking him in parliment. A very different monster than the nodding dogs he has now. 

 

 

He is ready for them, a punch in the mouth is his answer to opposition.

3 hours ago, webfact said:

because politicians are close to the people.

Really? Seldom has there been a country where the wealth inequality between parliamentarians and the citizens has been greater. Far easier to suggest that the politicians have bought the people and the military is now pursuing the same approach.

Thais are either really that stupid or something very bad will come of this.  Thais should be looking south to their neighbor who removed their corrupt government. 

in his dreams maybe, on the other hand better a Prayut in power up front than a Prayut in power behind the scenes, he will be the grey eminence for many years to come so yes, why bother voting.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Prayut has backing of many political parties to return as PM, says Sontirat

Please name them, "many" he probably means 2 or 3, very vague sentence 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

He added that he had discussed with them what should be done for the country. 

What a sweet man, concerned for the country...

What should you do for the rape victim? What all Thai politicians do, rape some more...

Happy days all the generals are onboard as well so business as usual what was the voter turn out like? 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Prayut has backing of many political parties to return as PM, says Sontirat

Political parties don’t vote. People does. Stand for election to prove Prayut has the backing to become PM. Backdoor premiership is for gutless leader who know he is unelectable. 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Prayut has backing of many political parties to return as PM, says Sontirat

I'm guessing he's first person in Thailand to test medial cannabis. He should be off that 'high' and talking normally soon.

 

I don't wish to appear divisive but my impression is that many members of this forum don't have much contact with the educated Thai urban upper middle class of which Sino Thais are a major part..Let me assure all that there is a very wide spread assumption in that class that Prayuth will emerge as Prime Minister after the elections next year.I wouldn't characterize the support as enthusiastic but rather an acceptance of the inevitable, and they are generally okay with it.

2 minutes ago, jayboy said:

I don't wish to appear divisive but my impression is that many members of this forum don't have much contact with the educated Thai urban upper middle class of which Sino Thais are a major part..Let me assure all that there is a very wide spread assumption in that class that Prayuth will emerge as Prime Minister after the elections next year.I wouldn't characterize the support as enthusiastic but rather an acceptance of the inevitable, and they are generally okay with it.

Why dont you just say the upper middle class who are already getting kickbacks.

Is he allowed 'to meet with politicians'?  this is utterly HYPOCRITICAL

 

why is Abesit not howling in disgust?  spineless he is    

4 minutes ago, jayboy said:

I don't wish to appear divisive but my impression is that many members of this forum don't have much contact with the educated Thai urban upper middle class of which Sino Thais are a major part..Let me assure all that there is a very wide spread assumption in that class that Prayuth will emerge as Prime Minister after the elections next year.I wouldn't characterize the support as enthusiastic but rather an acceptance of the inevitable, and they are generally okay with it.

I agree as their time at the trough increases but they are not the masses!  only the masses can change Thailand by voting OR absenting 

 

 

6 hours ago, webfact said:

MANY POLITICAL parties

As many as the military can create through its political surrogates.

The bad news might be the moment at which the military is ready for the election.

3 minutes ago, BobBKK said:

I agree as their time at the trough increases but they are not the masses!  only the masses can change Thailand by voting OR absenting 

 

 

Right, BobBKK. That is why the millions and millions of ordinary Thais really must get active now, make their voices and presence felt, and make it impossible for this autocratic, military rule to continue for another 20 years (which is the militarists' plan - short-term!). The Thai People must stand up and shout 'NO' now!

Edited July 27, 20188 yr by Eligius

3 hours ago, jonclark said:

The public are going to be the ones who choose the PM not these life long beuraucats that think they know best.

 

ha ha ha... Thanks for that.. Best laugh of the morning.. 

 

10 minutes ago, jayboy said:

I don't wish to appear divisive but my impression is that many members of this forum don't have much contact with the educated Thai urban upper middle class of which Sino Thais are a major part..Let me assure all that there is a very wide spread assumption in that class that Prayuth will emerge as Prime Minister after the elections next year.I wouldn't characterize the support as enthusiastic but rather an acceptance of the inevitable, and they are generally okay with it.

I have little ( really no) contact with the class which you describe. I do have some contact with what might be described as the rural or provincial working and middle class. It is hard to exaggerate the contempt with which this regime, and by extension the groups which they serve  (geographically and demographically concentrated as you describe ) are held.

If as you suggest, and as is likely, the process (I hesitate to call it an election) results in Prayut and his junta remaining in power, then it may be accepted. Not because of any approval but because of his and his likes proven willingness to unleash military force on his opponents. That is not a recipe for sustainable or effective government in a modern developing country.

 

Taking the argument further, I for one don't think that he and his junta have the means or ability to actually keep physical control of the country in the face of sustained widespread opposition. If or more likely when that becomes widely understood or even suspected, then his bluff will be called.

 

So yes, I rather suspect that he will engineer matters so that he will stay as Prime Minister. For the time being. With the support of the Sino Thai Urban (Bangkok) middle class. That will not be anything like enough to keep him there, when his bluff is called.

25 minutes ago, jayboy said:

I don't wish to appear divisive but my impression is that many members of this forum don't have much contact with the educated Thai urban upper middle class of which Sino Thais are a major part..Let me assure all that there is a very wide spread assumption in that class that Prayuth will emerge as Prime Minister after the elections next year.I wouldn't characterize the support as enthusiastic but rather an acceptance of the inevitable, and they are generally okay with it.

You are correct.  There are plenty of go with the flow Thais who have more to lose than to gain by doing what they know is right.  As I stated in my post, these people are either really that stupid or something bad will come of this.  As the general will not debate nor bear any scrutiny as he feels that is beneath his noble stature as a leader of a Coup d'état, he will evade due process again.  He will then talk about the grandeur of Thailand and its laws as if he is some great bearer of great wisdom.   How people suffer such ineptitude and foolishness is a great mystery to me.   Many have experienced what you have mentioned, but would rather not repeat the mumblings of timid and self centered.   

Sontirat must have big plans to leave the country later

"Prayut has backing of many political parties to return as PM, says Sontirat"
At what cost ?

 

regards worgeordie

4 years of Prayut is quite enough. All bluster, no meaningful action.

2 hours ago, JAG said:

I have little ( really no) contact with the class which you describe. I do have some contact with what might be described as the rural or provincial working and middle class. It is hard to exaggerate the contempt with which this regime, and by extension the groups which they serve  (geographically and demographically concentrated as you describe ) are held.

If as you suggest, and as is likely, the process (I hesitate to call it an election) results in Prayut and his junta remaining in power, then it may be accepted. Not because of any approval but because of his and his likes proven willingness to unleash military force on his opponents. That is not a recipe for sustainable or effective government in a modern developing country.

 

Taking the argument further, I for one don't think that he and his junta have the means or ability to actually keep physical control of the country in the face of sustained widespread opposition. If or more likely when that becomes widely understood or even suspected, then his bluff will be called.

 

So yes, I rather suspect that he will engineer matters so that he will stay as Prime Minister. For the time being. With the support of the Sino Thai Urban (Bangkok) middle class. That will not be anything like enough to keep him there, when his bluff is called.

He is following the 1980 model of non elected PM. Below an extract from PP.

 

“He sees this as a kind of throwback to the 1980s when Gen Prem Tinsulanonda was an “outsider” prime minister, never elected. Prem “mostly ignored parliament” as it was “an unimportant place” where politicians argued and Prem ruled, with the “locus of political power was in the bureaucracy and the military.”

 

Personally I think that the model may work in 1980s where the citizens were less informed but not in this era of social media, open communication and seamless information flow.