HM the King opens first parliament since 2014 coup

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HM the King opens first parliament since 2014 coup

By AFP

 

 

HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn opened parliament Friday five years after a 2014 coup, stressing the importance of "national security" and "people's well-being" as the junta moves within striking distance of cementing its grip on power.

 

Results of the March 24 poll were released almost two months after the vote and showed no clear winner. But the junta-linked Palang Pracharat won 115 seats in the lower house, only 11 votes shy of a majority in the combined parliament thanks to 250 military-appointed senators.

 

All eyes are now on mid-sized parties that analysts believe are tilting towards Palang Pracharat.

 

Wearing glasses and reading from prepared remarks, King Maha Vajiralongkorn told hundreds of assembled MPs standing in white uniform to act with responsibility because "each member's action will directly affect national security and people's well being."

 

Members of the diplomatic corps were also in attendance.

 

The king was next to Queen Suthida, a former member of his royal bodyguard unit whom he married days before his coronation earlier this month.

 

The temporary setting -- Thailand's new parliamentary building is not ready yet -- hinted at the tensions and uncertainty surrounding the rocky path ahead.

 

Votes for House Speakers are set for Saturday while the vote for prime minister could happen as early as next week.

 

In a dramatic move a day before the opening, the constitutional court suspended junta foe Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit from parliament as it agreed to hear a case against him concerning the alleged ownership of media shares when he registered as a candidate.

 

It was the latest move against Thanathorn and his Future Forward party, which shocked the status quo by winning more than six million votes and 80 seats.

 

But if the court rules against him he could be barred from politics, face jail time, or see the dissolution of his party.

 

Though suspended he still attended the opening ceremony, but he cannot cast votes in the coming days.

 

Future Forward is part of an anti-junta bloc that could pose a legitimacy crisis for Palang Pracharat's prime ministerial candidate and junta chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha if he secures the premiership but fails to command a lower house majority.

 

That bloc includes Pheu Thai, which won 136 seats and is associated with self-exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

 

Despite the messy political climate observers have highlighted positive developments of the vote, including several first-ever LGBT candidates.

 

Trans filmmaker Tanwarin Sukkhapisit, who was born male, wore a skirt, suit jacket and tie to the opening.

 

A total of 27 parties also gained seats in parliament.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30369944

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-05-24

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[rooster59]

Uphold your duties, King tells legislators

By The Nation Weekend

 

 

THEIR MAJESTIES the King and the Queen on Friday presided over the opening ceremony of the new parliamentary term following the election in March, with the King telling the MPs and senators to always keep in mind the importance of their duties for public interest.

 

“All your actions will have a direct impact on national security as well as on the well-being of the people,” King Maha Vajiralongkorn said. “Thus, it is necessary that everyone cooperates in all missions with full capacity, prudence, and in good faith ...”

 

The King also extended good wishes to those engaged in parliamentary work as well as to the newly elected MPs as well as the senators.

 

 

The state ceremony to open the parliamentary term following the March election took place at the Foreign Ministry. In addition to the members of the House of Representatives and Senate, the event was also attended by members of the current government, including Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, and dozens of ambassadors.

Among the MPs was Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, who had been suspended from duties the day before. 

 

Dressed in official attire, Thanathorn attended the ceremony, as he still had the right to participate but not to vote after his suspension.

 

The suspension stemmed from a case involving the timing of Thanathorn’s holding of shares in a media company. The case is before the Constitutional Court, which will decide whether to remove him from office.

 

 

Anti-junta protesters gathered in front of Bangkok’s Art and Culture Centre to demonstrate over the legal action taken against Thanathorn.

 

Led by anti-junta figure Nuttaa Mahuttana, the protesters also vented their frustrations over other political issues, including the treatment of the anti-junta bloc that has gained significant numbers of MPs but may not be able to form a governing coalition.

 

The activists wore black to reflect their views on the state of Thai politics.

 

In a related development, the first Senate meeting also took place on Friday. The senators took their oaths of office and selected a speaker and two deputy speakers for the chamber.

 

 

Pornpetch Vichitcholchai had been the sole candidate for speaker. General Singhsuek Singhprai and Supachai Somcharoen had also been the sole candidates for the two deputy speaker positions.

 

Pornpetch was formerly president of the coup-installed National Legislative Assembly; Singhsuek was an NLA member and Supachai had been the president of the Election Commission.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30369957

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-05-25

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