Pro-junta coalition unravels over haggling for portfolios

By THE NATION

 

 

ALL OFFERS WITHDRAWN, SAYS DEMOCRAT EVEN AS PHALANG PRACHARAT MAINTAINS TALKS ARE ON 

 

PHALANG Pracharat’s efforts to build a coalition government has reached a dead end amid wrangling over ministerial portfolios, two days after formal invitations were extended to potential key partners.

 

The government formation had appeared promising for the pro-junta camp after the election of the house speaker on the weekend. But the deal has hit a snag after Phalang Pracharat and Democrat parties could not see eye to eye on the post of agriculture minister.

 

Control of the ministry assumes significance in solving issues related to agricultural product prices, which impact a great number of voters.

 

“All deals or ministerial posts Phalang Pracharat has offered to its allies have been withdrawn. Now it is back to square one,” said a Democrat Party source yesterday.

 

The influential faction in the pro-junta bloc – Sam Mitr or Three Allies – was reportedly unyielding about giving up the agriculture minister position after having already sacrificed the house speaker’s post to Democrat patriarch Chuan Leekpai. 

 

The bloc reportedly tried to bargain with the Democrats by offering the position of education minister but to no avail.

 

The Democrat Party postponed its meeting set for yesterday, which would have made a final decision on the coalition.

 

The conflict within the pro-junta bloc was accentuated after Phalang Pracharat’s No 1 party-list MP, Nattapol Teepsuwan, reportedly told the press that the bloc could still back junta chief General Prayut Chan-o-cha to be the PM, even without support from the Democrats.

 

As PM, Prayut would have the power to dissolve Parliament and call an election should the formation of a coalition be impossible, said Nattapol.

 

Though the Democrat Party only has 53 seats in the lower house against Phalang Pracharat’s 116, its move could trigger a domino effect and shut the doors on the formation of a pro-junta coalition government.

 

Bhumjaithai Party, which had accepted Phalang Pracharat’s invitation on Monday, may also review its stance.

 

Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul said yesterday the party could not work with Phalang Pracharat unless it had a simple majority to legitimately form a government. 

 

Chartthaipattana Party, which had earlier said it would support the Phalang Pracharat-led coalition in Parliament, also appeared discontented and might change its stance over the allocation of Cabinet seats.

 

The party, which controls 10 MPs, reportedly has its eyes on the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry but Phalang Pracharat may allow its MP Santi Prompat, a former minister, to retain the portfolio.

 

Playing down the collapse in negotiations, Phalang Pracharat leader Uttama Savanayana insisted that talks were still ongoing, dismissing reports that the deals had been withdrawn.

 

Political scientist Stithorn Thananitichoti believed the real problem for the Democrat Party was one of political image.

 

The expert said he believed the imbroglio over ministerial portfolios was trivial. The Democrats were possibly more concerned about supporting General Prayut as PM, he said.

 

He believed the pro-junta bloc would be able to form a coalition, with the Democrats joining the government after the selection of PM.

 

Meanwhile, Pheu Thai Party’s secretary-general, Phumtham Wechayachai, yesterday blamed the Constitution as the root cause of this deadlock. He urged all affected parties to unite in the public interest and to amend the charter.

 

Parties could still change their mind today to find a solution for the country, Phumtham said, adding people would be watching which parties were keeping their promises.

 

Currently, the anti-junta camp holds 246 seats from seven parties in the lower house. 

 

Phalang Pracharat has 116 MPs of its own and another 10 from minor parties. If it can seal a deal with the Democrat, Bhumjaithai, Chartthaipattana and Chart Pattana parties, it could form a multiparty coalition.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30370254

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-05-30

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Plus the fact Prayut has said he will have the last word (no change there) on all ministerial appointments.

5 years with the military dictating everything has done nothing to change the nature of Thai politics. That massive effort to invent a constitution so complicated and devious that it would diminish the Thaksin support has created a situation which I'm sure Prayuth will not want to operate in. He must be livid at the sight of these ex-Puea Thai chosen mercenaries making deals with all the old parties he would like to banish. What a fine end to a farcical election.

15 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

Plus the fact Prayut has said he will have the last word (no change there) on all ministerial appointments.

Yeah. Ain’t that just the fat head junta icing  on a dictator cake still reigning control. 

Edited May 30, 20197 yr by holy cow cm

this could be interesting, what happens if we end up with a pro junta govt but not the general as the pm, hmmmm

23 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

Plus the fact Prayut has said he will have the last word (no change there) on all ministerial appointments.

that is yet to happen, he might say and believe it - but might not happen in reality.

Of course the army chief might move in, kick everyone's arse and start all over again --- one way or another, happy days ahead for the Land of Smiles

Edited May 30, 20197 yr by Artisi

57 minutes ago, webfact said:

reached a dead end amid wrangling over ministerial portfolios

who'd have thought that politicians put their own needs before the needs of the people who 'elected' them; what is the world coming to!

5 minutes ago, seajae said:

this could be interesting, what happens if we end up with a pro junta govt but not the general as the pm, hmmmm

more than possible - wouldn't be the first time a leader has been rolled for the betterment  (access to trough) of a political part.

Oh boy! can you just imagine the dummy spit ……………….

 

5 minutes ago, seajae said:

this could be interesting, what happens if we end up with a pro junta govt but not the general as the pm, hmmmm

Really nothing change as long as the crooked military drafted constitution and the 20 years national strategy are still in placed as well as Prawit and Anupong remained as Defence and Interior ministers respectively.  

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Pro-junta coalition unravels over haggling for portfolios

Excellent.

Hilarious.

Could'nt happen to a nicer bunch of weasels.

I also apologize to weasels, everywhere, worldwide, for insulting them, and putting them in the same descriptive boat as these scumbags who would sell their own mothers.

I guess the finaglers aren't quite as freaking good at finagling as they thought they were.

 

Geez, can't even rig an election! How can they be trusted to govern a country?

Thai politics a la 'Fantasia'

 

 

Given the Nation's editorial stance, I suppose that only negative news re PPRP's coalition is to be expected. The other paper leads with the news that PPRP has agreed to the Democrat's requests for ministerial positions, making this topic rather stale and irrelevant.  

20 minutes ago, Ozman52 said:

Given the Nation's editorial stance, I suppose that only negative news re PPRP's coalition is to be expected. The other paper leads with the news that PPRP has agreed to the Democrat's requests for ministerial positions, making this topic rather stale and irrelevant.  

Good point and certainly not the first time, over many years, that the headlines etc., in the two papers conflict. 

The gravy train of politics, not just in Thailand, create never ending mindless problems which slow down positive progression and in so doing, inhibit the masses in obtaining a better quality of life.

 

Politicians serve the general public inorder to achieve a better standard and way of living. Don't they? Or do the general public serve politicians for polititains to obtain a better way of life?

 

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Ozman52 said:

Given the Nation's editorial stance, I suppose that only negative news re PPRP's coalition is to be expected. The other paper leads with the news that PPRP has agreed to the Democrat's requests for ministerial positions, making this topic rather stale and irrelevant.  

If you pay attention to the publishing date and time, this news seem to be the latest development and thus relevant.

15 minutes ago, Sonhia said:

The gravy train of politics, not just in Thailand, create never ending mindless problems which slow down positive progression and in so doing, inhibit the masses in obtaining a better quality of life.

 

1---Politicians serve the general public inorder to achieve a better standard and way of living. Don't they?

2---Or do the general public serve politicians for polititains to obtain a better way of life?

 

 

 

 

 

in Thailand it's the (2) second way around

with such big egos all around they will never make a deal, thus military (once again) will prepare for a coup and all back to where it was.... as they say, same same but (no) different

4 hours ago, bluesofa said:

Plus the fact Prayut has said he will have the last word (no change there) on all ministerial appointments.

Exactly!  How can such lecherous buffoons be trusted?  The junta created a rubber stamp legislature.   You think now they want others to participate ?  It damages the country's reputation for the "Democrats" to even be negotiating with the junta.

54 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

If you pay attention to the publishing date and time, this news seem to be the latest development and thus relevant.

Yes that is the latest news they have given the Democrats the ministry of agriculture

Headline should read "Prayut now has the coalition to be Prime Minister".

1 hour ago, Mavideol said:

with such big egos all around they will never make a deal, thus military (once again) will prepare for a coup and all back to where it was.... as they say, same same but (no) different

It's obvious that within a couple of years at most, another coup will come.

That is the only tried-and-tested way the Thai elite know how to maintain their decades-old grip on power.

 

Edited May 30, 20197 yr by Eligius

Just now, Eligius said:

It's obvious that within a couple of years at most, another coup will come.

That is the only way the Thai elite know how to maintain their decades-old grip on power.

Yes.

 

Sooner more than later,I would say.

 

They have constructed a dog's breakfast purely and simply on the grounds of being able to shriek (yet again) "See..democracy doesn't work!"

 

 

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Control of the ministry assumes significance in solving issues related to agricultural product prices, which impact a great number of voters.

which involves huge sums of money to be purloined from the peoples' pockets.

2 hours ago, Eligius said:

It's obvious that within a couple of years at most, another coup will come.

That is the only tried-and-tested way the Thai elite know how to maintain their decades-old grip on power.

 

like your optimism, couple years? I don't think we will have to wait until Xmas 555

Coming soon..........

 

Interestingly Israel is going back to the ballot. Won't happen here. See earlier post.

So many snouts, so little trough.

So the infighting for trough position may be the arrow that kills the beast. How appropriate. Either way...the Thai people lose. But after all, they voted to be allowed to lose.

18 hours ago, Sonhia said:

Politicians serve the general public inorder to achieve a better standard and way of living. Don't they? Or do the general public serve politicians for polititains to obtain a better way of life?

In Thailand the latter exists 100%