Pheu Thai’s PM picks seen as ‘most attractive’

[webfact]

Pheu Thai’s PM picks seen as ‘most attractive’

By KAS CHANWANPEN 
THE NATION

 

 

Political scientist does not expect projunta party to make a big impact among voters.

 

 

PARTIES ONE AFTER another announced their candidates for the prime minister’s post last week, a critical factor in the coming election, with voters holding a single ballot to render all of their choices.

 

With that single ballot, voters can select their preferred constituency candidate and a party and premier to lead the next government.

 

Last week amid much fanfare all the major parties revealed their nominees to take on the top government job. The names they put forward are sure to have a substantial impact on how citizens mark their ballots. The Pheu Thai Party, former lead partner in a government coalition but arch-rival to the current military-led regime, submitted three names for the top post – Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, Chatchart Sittipan and Chaikasem Nitisiri.

 

The Democrat Party has stood by its long-time leader, former PM Abhisit Vejjajiva, and named no one else, despite being permitted under law to submit three alternatives. A new party built of veteran politicians, Phalang Pracharat, named Uttama Savanayana and his mentor Somkid Chatusripitak as PM candidates, but it is widely believed that Prayut Chan-o-cha, the general who led the 2014 coup, is its No 1 choice to continue as premier.

 

The central question, given that each voter holds only one ballot, now becomes who among the nominated will most appeal to the electorate.

 

Political scientist Titipol Phakdee-wanich, dean of political science at Ubon Ratchathani University, said Pheu Thai’s three choices could remain most attractive to voters despite their being frozen out of politics for five years.

 

Though Sudarat is seen as Pheu Thai’s de facto leader and might be its No 1 PM candidate as well, Titipol views Chatchart as the perfect contender for the premier’s job. He cites the “vision” and experience Chatchart displayed when proposing the high-speed railway mega-project five years ago.

 

“Chatchart is the right one to develop both democracy and the economy,” Titipol said, referring to two areas most constrained since the coup of 2014.

 

However, he questioned whether Pheu Thai was being sincere in putting Chatchart’s name forward.

 

“I don’t know if they are for real or if they just want to use his credit to lure urban, younger and middle- and upper-class voters. We have to admit that his name isn’t as appealing in the rural areas as Sudarat’s. When campaigning in the countryside, she still takes the lead.”

 

Lower-class voters still remember Sudarat as the health minister, he noted, and that matters because the health-related policy is one of Pheu Thai’s strong suits, in addition to other welfare schemes and its economic performance, he added.

 

Looking at the Democrat Party, Titipol did not consider Abhisit the best choice for prime minister, especially when it comes to promoting democracy.

 

“I don’t think he’s a true believer in democracy. He’s ready to compromise with anyone, including the military, and play outside the rules. If we want a good return to democracy, I don’t see Abhisit fitting as the PM.” Titipol also doubted that Abhisit would appeal much to voters any longer, despite having once been admired for his credentials as an Oxford alumnus, as well as his youth and good looks.

 

Democrat supporters in the South are fonder of the party’s former leader and patriarch, Chuan Leekpai, Titipol observed.

 

Citizens voting for Abhisit will likely be those who despise the Shinawatra camp, he said, and this time Abhisit might have to share his support with Phalang Pracharat, a stronger “brand” known as “the Shinawatra terminator”, he observed.

 

Phalang Pracharat’s Prayut, Uttama and Somkid could find support among voters who are the pro-junta and anti-Shinawatra, Titipol added. Other than that, he said, especially low-income earners haven’t really bought into their campaign, considering their laggard performance in the past five years.

 

He doesn’t see Phalang Pracharat as offering anything close to a good candidate for PM. “They’ve had no tangible accomplishments – the promised reforms never quite came through,” he said.

 

“This is not to mention their relation with the coup. If Prayut really returned as PM, it would spell doom for democracy in this country.”

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30363468

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-02-04

 

[smutcakes]

Well he has said what many think.... wonder if he will be getting a knock on the door!

[yellowboat]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

“This is not to mention their relation with the coup. If Prayut really returned as PM, it would spell doom for democracy in this country.”

Not just democracy but anything resembling progress, good economics or Thai culture. 

[Thailand]

Yingluck would have been the most attractive but  I believe there may be a problem there, at the moment anyway.

[thaiguzzi]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Looking at the Democrat Party, Titipol did not consider Abhisit the best choice for prime minister, especially when it comes to promoting democracy.

 

“I don’t think he’s a true believer in democracy. He’s ready to compromise with anyone, including the military, and play outside the rules. If we want a good return to democracy, I don’t see Abhisit fitting as the PM.” Titipol also doubted that Abhisit would appeal much to voters any longer, despite having once been admired for his credentials as an Oxford alumnus, as well as his youth and good looks. 

+1. ????

[quandow]

We ALL know the voters don't count, it's who counts the VOTES that matters.

[bowerboy]

Rumors are swirling that one of the parties will announce their candidate today and that when they do it will absolutely blow your mind.

 

The source of the rumour is extremely reliable but the candidate seems almost impossible to believe.

 

Hang on to your hats because if this is true then the election is a foregone conclusion and it will not be the Junta who comes out on top.

 

Seriously this is an absolute game changer and will take Thailand in a completely different direction. We will know by end of today.

 

It would of have to of been ordained from on high and would explain the delay in the announcement of the poll date.

 

This will be absolutely MASSIVE if true.

[bowerboy]

It would also explain why Prayut is not aligning with any party and why he wants to stay on for a few months...he will lose massive face if he goes against this candiadate...better withdraw and not lose face.

[bowerboy]

Think “potentially illegal” to not vote for this candidate

[248900_1469958220]

Bowerboy....are you playing? I have some idea of what you 'may' be talking about. Then again, I may not....What are you talking about? 

[bowerboy]

Well I saw it on Facebook on a very reliable foreign source...since 10pm last night when it was posted it has garnered several thousand comments and several thousand shares.

 

Think foreign journalist no longer welcome here...normally always right...even he cant believe it but says his sources are so good that he is forced to accept it until shown otherwise.

[bowerboy]

It is so wild that You would never dare to think it...you would not consider it an option until someone tells you...but then suddenly it all makes sense...everything would make sense about this.

[MRToMRT]

Its on twitter. I dont believe it but if its true this thread and every other election thread on this forum will be shut down. 

[AGareth2]

1 hour ago, bowerboy said:

This will be absolutely MASSIVE if true.

is it constitutional?

[cornishcarlos]

I'm just guessing who it is...

Hope my guess is right, this will throw a spanner in the next couple decades of Thai politics !!'

 

Remember, if your vote counted, they wouldn't let you vote...

[248900_1469958220]

Can someone pm me a link....call me stoopid....but I cant find anything....

[bowerboy]

7 minutes ago, AGareth2 said:

is it constitutional?

 

Probably...said candidate is officially not a member but for all intents and purposes is a member if you get my drift....and if true (and it’s a big if) then it would of been agreed to and endorsed by head member so to speak...it’s a countercoup without using the army....absolute genius if this does happen

[Khaeng Mak]

Show stopper. We will know if it is just a rumor in 24 hours time.

[Crossy]

14 minutes ago, Khaeng Mak said:

Show stopper. We will know if it is just a rumor in 24 hours time.

Indeed.

 

Please be very, very careful how you discuss this.

 

[brewsterbudgen]

Facebook too. 1.9k comments!

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
 

[Khaeng Mak]

Would account for the recent outbursts and passive aggression with the media.

[Khaeng Mak]

48 minutes ago, 248900_1469958220 said:

Can someone pm me a link....call me stoopid....but I cant find anything....

Dam!

[248900_1469958220]

Ok everyone...the slowest member of the class is now filled in. Holy smoke!!! This would make for some VERY interesting times!

[bowerboy]

Thailand’s trajectory as a country would literally be completely changed in one move....it would be absolutely historical

[kannot]

3 hours ago, quandow said:

We ALL know the voters don't count, it's who counts the VOTES that matters.

Theyd  better get the 7-11  staff  calculator out then

[boonrawdcnx]

Rumors are swirling that one of the parties will announce their candidate today and that when they do it will absolutely blow your mind.

 

The source of the rumour is extremely reliable but the candidate seems almost impossible to believe.

 

Hang on to your hats because if this is true then the election is a foregone conclusion and it will not be the Junta who comes out on top.

 

Seriously this is an absolute game changer and will take Thailand in a completely different direction. We will know by end of today.

 

It would of have to of been ordained from on high and would explain the delay in the announcement of the poll date.

 

This will be absolutely MASSIVE if true.

The only thing absolutely massive would be if it is a foreigner!! But what is suggested would be of course an incredible clever move.

Nothing the army could do anymore !

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[bowerboy]

3 minutes ago, boonrawdcnx said:

The only thing absolutely massive would be if it is a foreigner or TS.


Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

The level of ignorance here can be staggering at times.

 

You have no idea do you?

[bowerboy]

1 minute ago, bowerboy said:

 

The level of ignorance here can be staggering at times.

 

You have no idea do you?

 

To be fair though this is so mind blowing that you can be forgiven for not getting it 

[bowerboy]

When I say massive I mean that this could have a material effect on every single person in Thailand starting immediately and then continuing for decades thereafter...

 

It could be either the best thing that ever happened or the worst...I think it could well be the former

[boonrawdcnx]

 
To be fair though this is so mind blowing that you can be forgiven for not getting it 

It was meant to be sarcastic- but some people don’t get it!


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