Anti-junta camp says it has numbers to form govt

[webfact]

Anti-junta camp says it has numbers to form govt

By Kas Chanwanpen 
The Nation

 

Leaders of six parties, led by Pheu Thai, who claim to have the support of at least 255 MPs gather at a hotel in Bangkok yesterday to issue a joint statement that they will block the junta’s moves to remain in power.

 

Pheu Thai-LED coalition claims the support of at least 255 MPs
 

AS THE TUG of war between the pro-junta and anti-junta camps continues after the elections, with both sides declaring victory and claiming the right to form the government, a scholar said the principles of parliamentary system favoured the party with the most seats, rather than the popular vote winner. 

 

 

Hours after Pheu Thai-led pro-democracy parties yesterday announced they had at least 255 MPs and were ready to form a coalition, the pro-junta Phalang Pracharat Party also held a press conference, claiming Pheu Thai was bluffing as the election results had yet to be finalised. 

 

 

“They were just taking the opportunity to announce they have mustered a majority of constituency MPs, but the process is not finished yet,” Phalang Pracharat’s secretary-general Sontirat Sontijirawong said. “In reality, the Election Commission [EC] still has to announce the final results. The figures change every day.” 

 

He added that this was not the time to claim victory, as the contest had not ended yet. 

 

 

Sontirat called on the anti-junta bloc to stop exploiting the term “democracy”, and pointed out that his party – which backs General Prayut Chan-o-cha’s return as prime minister – had also “democratically” won 7.9 million votes.

 

“Democracy is about respecting the people’s decision,” Sontirat said. “Phalang Pracharat is also a pro-democracy party.”

 

Party leader Uttama Savanayana backed his colleague, saying Phalang Pracharat was in talks with like-minded parties about forming a government. 

 

“We still have some time and don’t need to rush,” he said, refusing to name the parties Phalang Pracharat was in talks with. 

 

However, both Sontirat and Uttama were reluctant to confirm if their party would be able to bring together more than 250 MPs to form a coalition. 

 

Awaiting official count on seats

 

The EC has yet to announce the official number of MP seats won by each party. Though Phalang Pracharat has won the most votes, initial calculations show its share in the Lower House is 97 seats versus Pheu Thai’s 137. 

 

 

Meanwhile, Pheu Thai led six other parties to issue a statement saying they would stand against the junta’s moves to retain power, claiming they already had the support of at least 255 MPs. 

 

The anti-junta bloc consists of Future Forward, Puea Chart, Prachachat, Seri Ruam Thai, Phalang Puang Chon and New Economics parties.

 

Though no representatives of the New Economics Party showed up at the press conference yesterday, it has been confirmed that their six successful MPs will join the anti-junta coalition.

 

The anti-junta bloc also declared yesterday that the more than 14 million votes won by them proved the public had given them the mandate to overthrow the coup-installed regime. 

 

The party leaders yesterday also pressured parties sitting on the fence to respect voters and join efforts to stop the junta from retaining power. 

 

Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Jungroongruangkit said yesterday that Pheu Thai’s de facto leader, Khunyin Sudarat Keyuraphan, was the most suitable candidate for the government’s top job, though Pheu Thai said the nomination of the PM will be discussed after a coalition has been formed. 

 

There has been talk that Pheu Thai may be saving the top post for Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charanvirakul, whose party has won over 50 seats, in a move to secure the formation of a coalition and effectively block the pro-junta camp. 

 

However, Pheu Thai secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai said yesterday that the party has never indicated it would support Anutin. 

 

As for Phalang Pracharat claiming victory in popular votes, Pornson Liengboonlertchai, an expert from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Political Science, said this claim does not match constitutional principles. 

 

The Constitution says the country is run under a “representative democratic” system as opposed to a “direct democracy”, he said, adding that it is constitutional convention that the party with the highest number of MPs reserves the right to form a government. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30366674

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-03-28

[Bang Bang]

18 minutes ago, webfact said:

“Democracy is about respecting the people’s decision,” Sontirat said. “Phalang Pracharat is also a pro-democracy party.”

A rare politician with a sense of humor.

[Fex Bluse]

This whole drama is so very Thai. I love it. 

[sjaak327]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The figures change every day.” 

I bet they do, and they have until the 9th of may to change them in such a way that Prayuth suddenly has a majority in the lower house...

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Democracy is about respecting the people’s decision,” Sontirat said. “Phalang Pracharat is also a pro-democracy party.”

 

If that statement were true, what in the hell are they doing naming Prayuth as their PM candidate ? This is the guy that staged a coup, hardly democratic. Do they think people forgot about that ? Nothing like respecting people's decision by deposing of a democratically elected government whilst elections are pending. 

[Thailand]

The junta and the EC certainly messed up by not blocking every conceivable avenue that has led to this impasse and only limited options.

Accept an opposition coalition.

"Fix" the voting correctly between now and May.

Revert to kind and stage another coup.

 

The second option seems the most likely with option one unacceptable to the plump p's and their backers.

[YetAnother]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Anti-junta camp says it has numbers to form govt

we can only hope

[Cadbury]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Sontirat called on the anti-junta bloc to stop exploiting the term “democracy”.

He must surely choke on the word "democracy"!

Democracy was exploited long ago by the unelected military government when Prayut and his ministers roamed the country pork barrelling provinces and villages and handing over funds to influential connections. How else would they have got the vote they did?

 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

"....his party – which backs General Prayut Chan-o-cha’s return as Prime Minister

Hopefully such a newly formed coalition will binish the farstard once and for all. 

[yellowboat]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

“Phalang Pracharat is also a pro-democracy party.”

By backing a non debating, coup leading usurper that installed hundreds of legislative shills?  They are pro junta and not good for Thailand.

[mania]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

"The figures change every day."

Oh boy...........Their way of saying they will adjust the result till it suits themselves?

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

There has been talk that Pheu Thai may be saving the top post for Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charanvirakul, whose party has won over 50 seats, in a move to secure the formation of a coalition and effectively block the pro-junta camp.

One can only hope they've found a way to get rid of the Junta & Prayut as leader.... after-all it was what the majority of people were hoping for.

The Junta may have been a tad over confident in the outcome & underestimated the opposition coalition strength !

[toenail]

For these 6 political parties to agree to unite is a sign how they have something in common ( combat the “junta party” and how they want more of a “real” democratic process. Good luck

[klauskunkel]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

In reality, the Election Commission [EC] still has to announce the final results.

In reality, the Election Commission [EC] still has to figure out how to disqualify the anti-junta parties.

[spidermike007]

I expect the hapless and desperate army to do everything they can, to cling to power. Let us hope they are thwarted. The last thing in the world Thailand needs is another five years of incompetence, hubris, xenophobia, and Prayuth!

[khunPer]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

Though Phalang Pracharat has won the most votes, initial calculations show its share in the Lower House is 97 seats versus Pheu Thai’s 137. 

It would actually be interested to see if there will be the same demand for the one with the highest number of votes should be the real winner, like the debate after the US 2016-election, Trump vs. Clinton...????

[Eric Loh]

33 minutes ago, khunPer said:

It would actually be interested to see if there will be the same demand for the one with the highest number of votes should be the real winner, like the debate after the US 2016-election, Trump vs. Clinton...????

It’s a Spicey moment. Those high numbers are fake courtesy of the EC. Already 1 case when FFP demand a re-count after votes were found more than those registered. Now calls to re-count all votes. 

[SunsetT]

11 hours ago, webfact said:

The figures change every day.” 

I bet they do........????.

[sjaak327]

1 hour ago, khunPer said:

It would actually be interested to see if there will be the same demand for the one with the highest number of votes should be the real winner, like the debate after the US 2016-election, Trump vs. Clinton...????

Hardly comparable. In thailand there is no electoral college, there is a lower house. Naturally the party with the most seat in that lower house gets to start forming a coalition. It's a different ballgame alltogether. 

[sjaak327]

5 hours ago, klauskunkel said:

In reality, the Election Commission [EC] still has to figure out how to disqualify the anti-junta parties.

Oh, I call on them to have the balls to do just that. I think by now, that option is off the table. 

 

Let them first explain how in quite a few constituencies there were more votes counted than voters registered. And then we will talk !

[steven100]

6 hours ago, hotchilli said:

One can only hope they've found a way to get rid of the Junta & Prayut as leader.... after-all it was what the majority of people were hoping for.

The Junta may have been a tad over confident in the outcome & underestimated the opposition coalition strength !

Let's hope not.  I am not too concerned .... Khun Prayut is here to stay ... thankfully.

or you prefer the way it was before ....

[Artisi]

10 hours ago, Fex Bluse said:

This whole drama is so very Thai. I love it. 

just missing the gongs, whistles, and canned laughter, although plenty of clowns in attendance. 

[Artisi]

8 hours ago, YetAnother said:

we can only hope

but not before the next big event in which the little green man wishes to partake in...

[sjaak327]

1 minute ago, steven100 said:

Let's hope not.  I am not too concerned .... Khun Prayut is here to stay ... thankfully.

or you prefer the way it was before ....

The vast majority of voters apparently prefer the way it was before as well. Now don't you think that this time their wil should be respected ? 

 

[steven100]

Just now, sjaak327 said:

The vast majority of voters apparently prefer the way it was before as well. Now don't you think that this time their wil should be respected ? 

 

so you don't mind the road blocks, protest, lawlessness.... killings, and general mayhem.

Funny,  that's not what the thai's in my village want again ...

[sjaak327]

Just now, steven100 said:

so you don't mind the road blocks, protest, lawlessness.... killings, and general mayhem.

Funny,  that's not what the thai's in my village want again ...

No idea what you are on about. You must live in quite a eventful village. 

[Artisi]

12 minutes ago, steven100 said:

Let's hope not.  I am not too concerned .... Khun Prayut is here to stay ... thankfully.

or you prefer the way it was before ....

if Prayut doesn't  make it and the others do, they wont have carte-blanche control as they did previously - some of the other parties will keep control on things, remember they also have their own agenda and are only joining for one main reason ….

[Xaos]

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10156710200551154&id=627196153 

[Baerboxer]

2 hours ago, sjaak327 said:

Hardly comparable. In thailand there is no electoral college, there is a lower house. Naturally the party with the most seat in that lower house gets to start forming a coalition. It's a different ballgame alltogether. 

 

555! Different but same same!

[sjaak327]

1 minute ago, Baerboxer said:

 

555! Different but same same!

Let's just say, that with a true proportional system, PTP would have had north of 10 million votes, if not 11 million. They did only contest in 250 constituenties instead of all 350. courtesy of the EC and constitutional court disbanding PTP sister party. 

 

So the discussion Clinton versus Trump isn't even relevant on that level, in the US elections are not being tilted towards the ruling party by disbanding competitors.

 

 

[Baerboxer]

2 hours ago, sjaak327 said:

The vast majority of voters apparently prefer the way it was before as well. Now don't you think that this time their wil should be respected ? 

 

 

Not sure the voters who voted against the Junta but chose alternatives to PTP actually want a Thaksin controlled kleptocracy. Interesting to see how they react to to their chosen parties joining a PTP led coalition and in particular the Future Forward leader supporting PTP's Thaksin appointed leader even before PTP formally put her forward as PM.

 

The question will be can the other coalition partners put the breaks on PTP excesses, cheating and probably at some point, a whitewash for their owner? 

 

If so, could be very interesting; if not, expect the usual "solution"!

[sjaak327]

Just now, Baerboxer said:

 

Not sure the voters who voted against the Junta but chose alternatives to PTP actually want a Thaksin controlled kleptocracy. Interesting to see how they react to to their chosen parties joining a PTP led coalition and in particular the Future Forward leader supporting PTP's Thaksin appointed leader even before PTP formally put her forward as PM.

 

The question will be can the other coalition partners put the breaks on PTP excesses, cheating and probably at some point, a whitewash for their owner? 

 

If so, could be very interesting; if not, expect the usual "solution"!

I think it is very very clear that FFP would join PTP, other than you, many people in Thailand want their country back. The country that Prayuth stole from them.

 

By the way, she cannot become a PM. As she apparently was on the party list, and PTP gained 0 Party list votes. (courtesy of yet another Junta machination) in any case, according to the Bangkok Post PTP offered Thanatorn the PM seat. 

 

With this election result, I believe Prayuth will be gone within a few months, whatever route he will choose.