Thanathorn aims for PM, might be lucky to remain MP

[webfact]

Thanathorn aims for PM, might be lucky to remain MP

By THE NATION

 

Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit Future Forward Party leader

 

With rival camps’ potential allies wavering over next step, EC approaches court to disqualify Future Forward leader.
 

FUTURE Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit announced yesterday he was ready to serve as prime minister, even as the Election Commission (EC) was asking the Constitutional Court to disqualify him as a member of Parliament.

 

  The EC cited his alleged ownership of stakes in a media company. Being found guilty of the charge would not only block his political ambitions but also send him to jail for 10 years.

 

Unfazed by the challenge, Thanathorn declared that his party was ready to take the lead in forming the next government. “I am ready to be the next prime minister in order to stop the continuity of power of the National Council for Peace and Order,” Thanathorn told reporters, referring to the military junta.

 

He said the March 24 election was tilted to favour the pro-junta Phalang Pacharat Party and there was no other way to stop the military from clinging to political power. General Prayut Chan-o-cha has strong support to continue as premier, he said.

 

Thanathorn said Future Forward would compete with the pro-junta camp in mustering support in Parliament to form the government. 

 

The party has a signed an agreement with the Pheu Thai, Puea Chart, Prachachat, Seri Ruam Thai, Phalang Puang Chon and New Economics parties to do so. But, by the EC’s calculations of party-list MPs, the rival camp led by Phalang Pracharat, buttressed by a string of “micro-parties”, commands 255 seats in the Lower House, enough for a working minority government. 

 

The Constitution requires more than half of the combined 750 seats in both houses to install a prime minister. The junta has handpicked loyalists to occupy Senate seats, who would likely block the anti-junta coalition from forming a government. 

 

Pheu Thai, which won the most seats in the Lower House, yesterday summoned key members such as Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan and Phumtham Wechayachai to discuss strategies for countering Phalang Pracharat. The preferred solution, according to a party source, was to bring the Democrat and Bhumjaithai parties, which have a combined 103 seats, into the anti-junta camp. 

 

The two could decide between them who gets the premier’s post, the source said. 

 

Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul said yesterday his party would make a decision on Monday about which camp to join. “There’s a lot of strong pressure to decide because the political community is so heavily focused on the pro- versus anti-democracy camps,” he said. “The people made their decision in the election, so there should be no division anymore.”

 

The Democrats, who elected Jurin Laksanawisit the party’s new leader on Wednesday, are also going to wait until next week to decide which camp to join. 

 

Thanathorn’s defiant declaration came hours after the EC asked the charter court to revoke his MP status. A month after the election, the EC accused the billionaire of violating electoral laws by owning or holding 675,000 shares in V-Luck Media Co when he registered as a party-list candidate for the election. 

 

Both the Constitution and the MPs Election Act prohibit MP candidates from holding shares in media companies. If found guilty, Thanathorn would be disqualified as an MP and could be jailed for one to 10 years, as well as being banned from elections for 20 years.

 

Thanathorn, who became a member of Parliament when his party won a surprise 80 seats in the House, insists he has done nothing wrong, as proven in the documentation and other evidence he has submitted to the authorities. 

 

“This is a last-ditch effort by the junta to block Future Forward, but I believe the court will be just,” he told reporters.

 

Thanathorn had earlier said the shares he owned were transferred to his mother long before he signed up as a candidate.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30369541

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-05-17

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[Thaiwrath]

3 minutes ago, webfact said:

FUTURE Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit announced yesterday he was ready to serve as prime minister,

 

6 minutes ago, webfact said:

“I am ready to be the next prime minister in order to stop the continuity of power of the National Council for Peace and Order,”

Unfortunately, I would think his statement more or less guarantees him an orange card, and a political ban.

 

[perthuniversity]

thanathorn is a natural for the position, he would turn thailand around instantly, the junta is a cancer

[Thailand]

The only real challenge to the generals, he's toast.

[nikmar]

Watching him on the news, admilledly not understanding all of what he says, I cant help seeing the glaring difference between him and Prayut and especially that clown Prawit. Where one comes across as collected and intelligent, the other two are belligerent and intolerant of questions.

 

My point being that he would make a far more effective PM. So as said before me, he's done for. Sad.

 

Sent from my SM-J730GM using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

 

 

 

[gunderhill]

If he could get all his  supporters  to turn up in Bangkok and bring the place to a  halt it would be great! The  only way General smugit is  going to be removed is by FORCE or  mass.

[holy cow cm]

If this happens and they do get the say and the majority, then I do believe in miracles.

[grumbleweed]

If he does become`PM it would become the first positive outcome of the entire coupe

P.S.

Don't wake me up just yet, let me dream

[nikmar]

 

came across this. may be of interest to some. 

[dave moir]

Is it not unfair that the military government already has an advantage by having hand picked members of the NCPO on the Senate already? Surly the Senate should be dissolved to give a fairer chance to the other parties involved!

Edited May 17, 2019 by dave moir
Spelling mistakes

[mfd101]

Everyone should watch the video. Nice to listen to a Thai leader who is intelligent, rational, well-informed, has sensible ideas for Thailand's future, and speaks understandable English.

 

Well, we can all dream.

[Srikcir]

22 minutes ago, dave moir said:

Surly the Senate should be dissolved to give a fairer chance to the other parties involved!

The previous Senate (50% elected, 50% junta-appointed) was dissolved by authority of Prayut's junta.

• As the new Senate (100% junta-appointed) was memorialized in the 2017 Constitution, it cannot be legally be dissolved by an elected government. Its legal dissolution would require an amendment to the constitution that requires Senate and House 'super' majorities (75%?). Thus, any change that is adverse to pro-military political factions will not happen.

Until the day that the Thai electorate can write their own constitution without intercession of the military, democratic governance of Thailand solely by the Thai electorate is only a dream.

[rabas]

I'm a bit  surprised at some peoples' reactions. "How wonderful, a filthy rich elite Thai billionaire in Thai politics, what a nice man."  Don't tell me you also believe Western politicians.

 

[Lupatria]

Reminds me of: "Dead man walking..."

[Oziex1]

Will there be an opposition to the junta?

 

Only by those who are prepared to be shot and only in numbers that will cause a cease fire and a real change.

 

Something needs to be relegated to a quaint museum piece as it is in other countries.

 

 

 

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, perthuniversity said:

thanathorn is a natural for the position, he would turn thailand around instantly, the junta is a cancer

Problem is cancer spreads !!!

[nikmar]

1 hour ago, rabas said:

I'm a bit  surprised at some peoples' reactions. "How wonderful, a filthy rich elite Thai billionaire in Thai politics, what a nice man."  Don't tell me you also believe Western politicians.

 

i see what youre saying.

His position in society has little to do with it. The point I was making is he just shows a better suitability to the job than the current mob.

And no, I dont have much faith in western politicians, but that's besides the point.

[gunderhill]

3 hours ago, dave moir said:

Is it not unfair that the military government already has an advantage by having hand picked members of the NCPO on the Senate already? Surly the Senate should be dissolved to give a fairer chance to the other parties involved!

Id  vote for shot not dissolved, unless that was in a bath of acid?

[ramr]

3 hours ago, rabas said:

I'm a bit  surprised at some peoples' reactions. "How wonderful, a filthy rich elite Thai billionaire in Thai politics, what a nice man."  Don't tell me you also believe Western politicians.

 

 

And someone without any connections or money has a chance of getting into power in Thailand how exactly?

 

It's still the difference between government by a relatively competent elite with some sort of realistic future/outside world orientation and an  utterly incompetent, thoroughly calcified one.  

 

This is Thailand; there will be some level of corruption and nest-feathering no matter who is in power.  He's still an improvement by a wide margin.

[SABloke]

If I was in charge of negotiations for PTP I would give Bhumjathai the pick of any ministries they wanted, including the PM's office. Sure, I wouldn't be in charge for the next five years, but when the next round of elections happen, PTP would not make the same mistake of only competing for 350 constituencies. (Many people conveniently forget when they say how well PPRP did compared to PTP, that PPRP contested for all 500. With the dissolution of PTP's sister party, they were always going to struggle)

Edited May 17, 2019 by SABloke

[Chrisswe]

The best option as PM is as per my opinion is Mr. Wikrom Kromadit , he has it all including a great intelligens and "split vision" !!!!

[Baerboxer]

On 5/17/2019 at 8:53 AM, rabas said:

I'm a bit  surprised at some peoples' reactions. "How wonderful, a filthy rich elite Thai billionaire in Thai politics, what a nice man."  Don't tell me you also believe Western politicians.

 

 

They probably also think he's so filthy rich he doesn't even need to be corrupt!

 

Didn't work out so well last time!!

[wreckingcountry]

Thailand shit show country ! Only have to hear what the EC Did and have been doing ! No hope for the fake country names Thailand


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