Future rests on who runs the major parties

By The Nation

 

 

The leadership of the Pheu Thai and Democrat parties remains in question, and it’s a pivotal question indeed

 

Few expect reconciliation after the election currently scheduled to take place early next year. But, once the identities of the leaders of the Pheu Thai and Democrat parties are known, we’ll have a better chance of foretelling the country’s immediate future and whether there could be a return to the violence that characterised the struggle for power over the past decade.

 

Both parties are still uncertain, to different degrees, about who will lead them into the election. Warong Dechgitvigrom seems poised to challenge Abhisit Vejjajiva for leadership of the Democrat Party, but the incumbent remains the favourite for the top post and any showdown could be just a show of how democratic Thailand’s oldest party is about selecting a leader.

 

Pheu Thai’s situation is glaringly different. The biggest party before the 2014 coup must be praying that Abhisit keeps his post. If he is replaced or chooses to step aside, the election becomes a whole new ball game for Pheu Thai, and a much more difficult one.

 

The party is expected to have another Thaksin Shinawatra candidate at the helm, someone acceptable to or endorsed by the clan. The appointment would almost certainly have to be reconsidered if Abhisit is removed from the picture.

 

The Democrat-Pheu Thai rivalry has always centred on their leaders, which has led to counterproductive results. A violent crowd attacked the car carrying Abhisit while he was prime minister and pro-Thaksin red shirts caused tumult across the land. Abhisit was blamed for ordering the military crackdown on a subsequent protest in Bangkok that ended with almost 100 people dead.

 

When Pheu Thai reclaimed political control, a Democrat-backed mass protest hit the streets. Bombs exploded and guns were fired before the 2014 coup finally ended all the madness.

 

While the Democrat leadership might be contested, Pheu Thai faces no such worry. If “the Boss” – the self-exiled former premier – gives his blessing to whoever is picked as the party’s nominal chief, everyone accepts the choice. But while the Democrats have a good idea of who could challenge Abhisit, Pheu Thai rank-and-file members will be in the dark until a decision is made for them overseas.

 

The electorate will also have the party of Thaksin and Yingluck Shinawatra under closer scrutiny than ever before. If its new leader is seen as “too close” to the Shinawatra clan, voters can fairly ask whether the party has the best interests of Thailand at heart.

 

Certainly, many citizens would like to see another Pheu Thai triumph at the polls, if only to drive home an ideological point to the military, but should the intentions of the resulting Pheu Thai government come into question, it could lead to another explosive situation.

 

Thus, both Pheu Thai and the Democrats find themselves on loose gravel amid leadership uncertainties. For now, all that is clear is that the identities of the two people leading the parties to the polls will define the immediate course of the country.

 

There are two types of rivalry, after all – one constructive and the other bitter and internecine, and we’ve been subjected to the ruinous fallout from the latter type for far too long.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/opinion/30354081

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-09-10

Irrelevant. P is PM for life and beyond.

What a pile of crap.

 

"... but the incumbent remains the favourite for the top post and any showdown could be just a show of how democratic Thailand’s oldest party is about selecting a leader..."

 

The reason that it is 'Thailand's oldest party' is that somehow (somehow!?) it doesn't face the same persecution as its opponents. PTP gets attacked by military coups, judicial coups, administrative coups, 'Independent agencies' coups, NACC coups, etc. and all the Democrat party does is get installed to power after losing elections. Hmm...

 

"...Pheu Thai’s situation is glaringly different..."

 

Yes, it is different. PT attained power by actually winning elections.

 

There are many, many things to dislike about the PTP. Many, many, many things. That said, they have been the democratic choice of the Thai people in every fair election this century. And, that democratic choice has been taken away from the people over and over again.

 

The leadership of the individual parties doesn't matter much. Thai politics is run by Oligarchs, if I can borrow a phrase from our Russian friends. The difference between the parties is that you know who the PTP oligarchs are, you do not know who the Democrat oligarchs are. That's all.

 

 

 

Edited September 9, 20187 yr by Samui Bodoh
Lack of coffee

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Future rests on who runs the major parties

Future rests more I would say on there actually being an election - makes no difference who runs a party if you cannot vote for them !

But while the Democrats have a good idea of who could challenge Abhisit, Pheu Thai rank-and-file members will be in the dark until a decision is made for them overseas.

 

I have said, many times, that all former politicians should be banned. This is an opportunity for a clean start, but not if all PTP decisions are still being made overseas. Why do they have to be, why can't they cast aside the Shins and take control of their own destiny? As long as Thaksin is pulling the strings the military will not relinquish power.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

If “the Boss” – the self-exiled former premier – gives his blessing to whoever is picked as the party’s nominal chief, everyone accepts the choice.

This "blessing" may be more difficult than in past times with the mandatory primary vote (unless suspended by the NCPO). to elect the party's candidates.

No matter who runs the political parties the Military will still run the country.From time in the 1930s,.Always have and Always will.

1 hour ago, Srikcir said:

This "blessing" may be more difficult than in past times with the mandatory primary vote (unless suspended by the NCPO). to elect the party's candidates.

Don't worry, his salaried / bonus collecting lackeys will find a way around that, ethical or unethical.  

25 minutes ago, scorecard said:

Don't worry, his salaried / bonus collecting lackeys will find a way around that, ethical or unethical.  

As opposed to the honest, principled Democrats like Suthep? 

 

It seems to me that the shadow you profess to hate is the shadow you cast.

 

| understand if you, or anyone else, doesn't like the PTP; that's fine. However, perhaps you might check that your own side is clean before you sully the opposition. 

 

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone...

 

PS As you don't seem to like outside financing of political parties, I have to ask; who funds the Democrats? And, where is your concern about that?

 

Edited September 10, 20187 yr by Samui Bodoh
Lack of coffee

A post in which the quoted content had been altered has been removed:

 

16) You will not make changes to quoted material from other members posts, except for purposes of shortening the quoted post. This cannot be done in such a manner that it alters the context of the original post.

Edited September 10, 20187 yr by metisdead
Need more coffee.

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Future rests on who runs the major parties

Future parties can go home, because, there will never ever dever be any election.

The title of the article should be: "If we have elections again, there will be violence" or "The reasons there shouldn't be elections in Thailand (violence)."
Interesting nuances. 

Edited September 10, 20187 yr by connda

8 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

As opposed to the honest, principled Democrats like Suthep? 

 

It seems to me that the shadow you profess to hate is the shadow you cast.

 

| understand if you, or anyone else, doesn't like the PTP; that's fine. However, perhaps you might check that your own side is clean before you sully the opposition. 

 

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone...

 

PS As you don't seem to like outside financing of political parties, I have to ask; who funds the Democrats? And, where is your concern about that?

 

 

I didn't say or suggest any other party was squeaky clean.

 

And to be specific, I wouldn't trust suthep with 1 Dubai Dirham.

 

I made my point, that's it.

 

 

15 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

What a pile of crap.

 

"... but the incumbent remains the favourite for the top post and any showdown could be just a show of how democratic Thailand’s oldest party is about selecting a leader..."

 

The reason that it is 'Thailand's oldest party' is that somehow (somehow!?) it doesn't face the same persecution as its opponents. PTP gets attacked by military coups, judicial coups, administrative coups, 'Independent agencies' coups, NACC coups, etc. and all the Democrat party does is get installed to power after losing elections. Hmm...

 

"...Pheu Thai’s situation is glaringly different..."

 

Yes, it is different. PT attained power by actually winning elections.

 

There are many, many things to dislike about the PTP. Many, many, many things. That said, they have been the democratic choice of the Thai people in every fair election this century. And, that democratic choice has been taken away from the people over and over again.

 

The leadership of the individual parties doesn't matter much. Thai politics is run by Oligarchs, if I can borrow a phrase from our Russian friends. The difference between the parties is that you know who the PTP oligarchs are, you do not know who the Democrat oligarchs are. That's all.

 

 

 

Well stated, Bodoh. 

Nothing will ever change until the traditional ruling classes/oligarchs are removed from the political and social landscape. 

16 minutes ago, zzaa09 said:

Well stated, Bodoh. 

Nothing will ever change until the traditional ruling classes/oligarchs are removed from the political and social landscape. 

Are International events of 1789 or 1917 ever included in history lessons?