Prayut must quit as junta chief, premier

By The Nation

 

 

Election and aftermath can be neither free nor fair otherwise

 

Outsiders might have been confused on Monday when Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha declared his interest in a political career. A naive observer might believe that a general whose military coup toppled an elected government four years ago would have no interest in politics. 

 

But while Prayut claimed that the coup was needed to maintain civil order and reconcile deep national divisions, in fact political agitators, military elements and elite interests had been protesting on the streets since late 2013 in what turned out to be a precursor for military takeover.

 

Once in office, Prayut and his crew have done everything to secure and extend their political power. Every order he has made as junta chief, every law passed by the rubber-stamp assembly, and every gagging or jailing of opposition voices has been aimed to secure Prayut’s political status and future.

 

But while his actions are clear, his words have been consistently inconsistent. Sometimes Prayut has said he is not interested in politics. Other times that he is a military man-cum-politician. He complains of being tired of working for the country. But then he says he wants to continue his work for the sake of the national interest and the people.

 

His announcement on Monday made headlines but surprised few people, since Prayut’s associates have been busy preparing the ground for his political career. Factions have announced they will form political parties to support his bid for leadership after the election.

 

The political lines have been drawn already, with Prayut’s supporters on one side and his opponents on the other.

 

The odds are heavily stacked in his favour, especially if he retains his power as junta chief and premier when he joins the race for the premiership.

 

Legally speaking, he is not allowed to run for Parliament while he holds political office. But that is not a problem if Prayut wants to be prime minister, not an MP.

 

Under the junta-sponsored constitution and its organic laws, parties can propose Prayut as the next PM after the election. He would need only 126 votes from lower-house MPs since the junta would pick up 250 votes from the appointed Senate. Unless his opponents win a landslide election victory, Prayut’s path to the premiership is open.

 

While is own political activities remain subject to restrictions, his Cabinet members and supporters face no such limitations and are in fact enhanced by legal instruments and mechanisms designed by junta loyalists.

 

The political playing field has been tilted so far in his favour that few observers doubt the eventual outcome.

 

Prayut compounded that view on Monday when he told reporters he would not be stepping down from political positions before or during the election. His powers as premier and junta chief will be irresistible to political parties or groups considering whether to lend him their support.

 

Of course, the world already knows Prayut cares little for fairness, or he would not have used military might to seize power four years ago. 

 

We can only hope now that he declines to exploit the national budget to fund his political campaign.

 

Though belated, that would be a step towards returning political norms and progress. Even better would be if Prayut relinquishes all power he holds so that we can maximise our chances of a free and fair election and resulting governance.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/today_editorial/30355220

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-09-26

"...Once in office, Prayut and his crew have done everything to secure and extend their political power. Every order he has made as junta chief, every law passed by the rubber-stamp assembly, and every gagging or jailing of opposition voices has been aimed to secure Prayut’s political status and future..."

 

A strong editorial, and I hope that other media take up its message. However, why would anyone be surprised?

 

He cheated his way into power; a coup is the ultimate political cheating.

 

He cheated by giving himself and his cronies amnesty in advance for everything.

 

He cheated by re-writing the constitution and creating a 'new' political system to benefit himself.

 

He is cheating by campaigning while banning others from doing the same.

 

He is a cheating cheater who cheats.

 

He continues to cheat everyday.

 

This is not news.

 

PS "...We can only hope now that he declines to exploit the national budget to fund his political campaign..."

 

Do you not read your own newspaper? That 'hope' went bye-bye a long time ago...

 

 

Edited September 25, 20187 yr by Samui Bodoh
Lack of coffee

Why should he have to step down. What other prime minister has ever stepped down prior to and going into an election

6 minutes ago, Gudge said:

Why should he have to step down. What other prime minister has ever stepped down prior to and going into an election

You do know how he got there do you?

Will they use Article 44 to force him?

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Prayut must quit as junta chief, premier

Yes, Prayut step down and Prawit step up... 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Prayut must quit as junta chief, premier

 

 

Yes...absolutely...

 

...and narcissists must stop looking in the mirror...and haughty people must stop bragging...and thieves must stop stealing... and bullies must stop mistreating others...

 

..all very good.

 

 

Edited September 26, 20187 yr by Hayduke

3 hours ago, webfact said:

While is own political activities remain subject to restrictions, his Cabinet members and supporters face no such limitations and are in fact enhanced by legal instruments and mechanisms designed by junta loyalists.

 

The political playing field has been tilted so far in his favour that few observers doubt the eventual outcome.

In which case the political parties should boycott a clearly rigged election, depriving both the proceedings and the junta chief of the legitimacy they both crave.

 

Of course, we might be getting a little ahead of ourselves talking about elections given the junta's track record of delays...

19 minutes ago, baboon said:

In which case the political parties should boycott a clearly rigged election, depriving both the proceedings and the junta chief of the legitimacy they both crave.

 

Of course, we might be getting a little ahead of ourselves talking about elections given the junta's track record of delays...

Absolutely right, Baboon. The political parties should by now have decided that this is an election which they cannot win - unless they support the junta - and so should be publicly declaring that they will boycott the election, and spell out their reasons why.

 

Yes again, Baboon: the only reason Prayut will (eventually - after more delays) hold an 'election' is to give himself and his 'government' the veneer of respectability and legitimacy, which will make him feel more confident when he struts about on the international stage.

 

Everything about the run-up to this bogus election stinks - and sincere political parties should call it out for what it is. They've got nothing to lose - because they are not going to win anyway. The winner has already been decided - it will be (surprise, surprise) Prayut.

 

 

In the current climate a bold bit of writing which we would say was fair comment, not sure how Thais would see it, most Thais are happy just to get by on a day to day basis and interest in politics is only for the rich and influential. The poor remain poor and promises don't change that, deeds might do but after 4 years show me some meaningful ones. The PM seems convinced he is going to walk right back in, I wonder if it will be that simple?

26 minutes ago, nong38 said:

The PM seems convinced he is going to walk right back in, I wonder if it will be that simple?

I think he and his junta will put up a show of having to overcome a few minor hurdles - but in the end he will get there. There will be pockets of resistance, street demonstrations, and violence - but nothing the junta cannot handle, in their usual gentle, peaceful and loving manner (remember 2010?) ...

I don't think it will be that simple for Prayut. Even if he manages to become PM through support from the Senate it is very likely the majority of MPs in the Lower House will be against him, namely Pheua Thai and The Democrats, thus making any legislation impossible.

If Abhisit is re-elected as leader of The Democrats, as I believe he will be, then the party cannot join Prayut in forming a government.

http://www.atimes.com/article/abhisit-says-thais-deserve-better-than-military-rule/

 

I can't see him failing to get in, because if he judges that there is the slightest chance of not doing so, he'll just find an excuse to postpone the election until the conditions are favourable. 

3 hours ago, Lupatria said:

Will they use Article 44 to force him?

 

5 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

"...Once in office, Prayut and his crew have done everything to secure and extend their political power. Every order he has made as junta chief, every law passed by the rubber-stamp assembly, and every gagging or jailing of opposition voices has been aimed to secure Prayut’s political status and future..."

 

A strong editorial, and I hope that other media take up its message. However, why would anyone be surprised?

 

He cheated his way into power; a coup is the ultimate political cheating.

 

He cheated by giving himself and his cronies amnesty in advance for everything.

 

He cheated by re-writing the constitution and creating a 'new' political system to benefit himself.

 

He is cheating by campaigning while banning others from doing the same.

 

He is a cheating cheater who cheats.

 

He continues to cheat everyday.

 

This is not news.

 

PS "...We can only hope now that he declines to exploit the national budget to fund his political campaign..."

 

Do you not read your own newspaper? That 'hope' went bye-bye a long time ago...

 

 

 

Lord Aston, a British historian got it right when he observed, "Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely". 

It seems that the Thai media is two years behind this forum.  Most on this forum saw this years earlier

 

Those who wanted the military to kick the Shinawatras out now have a much bigger problem.  Non elected entities that will take decades to get rid of. 

6 hours ago, Gudge said:

stepped down prior to and going into an election

"stepped down" is Thai military parlance to "being overthrown" prior to and going into an election.

 

Historically and constitutionally, the existing Thai PM becomes head of a "caretaker" government after the parliament is dissolved. Such a government has (for example) very reduced ability to introduce laws, make expenditures and participate in election campaigns. In essence the existing government is politically neutralized.

 

In the present case of Prayut as PM and Chief of the NCPO with absolute power, his continuance as PM as well as his cabinet AND parliament House prior to, during and after elections means the government cannot and will not be a caretaker government. Prayut and his government will not heed and comply with the junta-written constitution that that provides for a fair and open democratic election.