‘Weak democracy has lowered Thailand’s competitiveness ranking’

[webfact]

‘Weak democracy has lowered Thailand’s competitiveness ranking’

By The Nation

 

Anusorn Eamsaard

 

Thailand’s falling economic competitiveness is due to a lack of democracy in the country, the main opposition party said on Thursday (June 18).

 

Pheu Thai spokesperson Anusorn Eamsaard made the claim after Thailand dropped four places in IMD’s global competitiveness rankings this week, from 25th to 29th. The main reasons for the drop were a decline in the scores for economic performance and government efficiency.

 

"This shows that the coalition government – which most political parties have joined – has caused the country's competitiveness, in terms of economic conditions, fiscal status, government performance, and ability to attract foreign investment, to drop sharply," said Anusorn.

 

He said the government should deliver a development plan in line with changing trends, and that to do so, democracy must be strengthened.

 

"The government should also provide support for new entrepreneurs as well," he said. "If the 20-year national strategy does not work, the government must … change the strategy."

 

He added that if the government was too afraid to change, the country's competitiveness could drop further.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30389846

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-06-18

 

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[rebo]

„Weak democracy“ would mean that there is any ...

[CLS]

Who with half a brain would invest in a failed state?

 

Covid-19 has shown that doing business in Thailand is a No-No.

CEOs of foreign companies that are locked out of the country will reassess their plans.

[colinneil]

Am i reading the OP correctly? Weak democracy, how can democracy here be weak?

There aint any.

[CLS]

Weak democracy is the euphemism for dictatorship.

[mr mr]

29 minutes ago, webfact said:

"If the 20-year national strategy does not work, the government must … change the strategy."

please anusorn jai yen yen and allow time for the 20 year plan to fully be realized. we all know the pm will work tirelessly in order to execute said plan. 

 

why not give him more of your support to unite thailand ? rather than divide it with your rhetoric ?

[Ladidaa]

A weak democracy is still better than no democracy.

[ianezy0]

It is well known that weak governance leads to irresponsibility and corruption, which in turn leads to failed policies. Those failed policies create social problems and ecosystem decline.

 

Whilst it is good to hear this is recognised, how likely is it that the Opposition party will be in power anytime soon?
 

It’s a long political road (decades?) to Democratic leadership in the Kingdom.

[JonnyF]

Who wants to invest in a country where a Junta that stole power can subsequently use article 44 to close your Billion Baht business?

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30330764

 

[CLS]

4 minutes ago, ianezy0 said:

It is well known that weak governance leads to irresponsibility and corruption, which in turn leads to failed policies. Those failed policies create social problems and ecosystem decline.

 

Whilst it is good to hear this is recognised, how likely is it that the Opposition party will be in power anytime soon?
 

It’s a long political road (decades?) to Democratic leadership in the Kingdom.

Totally agree. But replace your last word with something more advanced.

[Bender Rodriguez]

as long as the leaders think their are good persons...

[Deli]

Even the commies back in the good old days had only plans for 5 years. How can do project a plan for 20 years from now? A lttle flu might mess up everything you planned.,

[soi3eddie]

Surprised to see ranked at 29th. Would have expected lower than that. Maybe soon...

[Misterwhisper]

A "20-year plan" is idiocy anyway. Every nation's economic circumstances are driven AND influenced by a multitude of factors that are in constant flux and need to be continuously assessed. A rigid plan spanning two decades does not have the flexibility to address changes in these factors nor can it foresee what the situation is going to be like in, say, five, let alone ten years. 

[Scott Tracy]

It's a rolling 20 year plan.

 

Just like my rolling 5 year plan. Things just keep moving to the right, as the saying goes, and the plan changes if it doesn't work or doesn't get done, the first year.

[Orton Rd]

Senate already stuffed with unelcted generals means NO DEMOCRCY

[Stargeezr]

Thai democracy.... well the people can dream , can't they

Geezer

[rvaviator]

1 hour ago, Deli said:

Even the commies back in the good old days had only plans for 5 years. How can do project a plan for 20 years from now? A lttle flu might mess up everything you planned.,

Just like China today ... 5 year plans .. adapt and change if need be ...

[Misterwhisper]

19 minutes ago, rvaviator said:

Just like China today ... 5 year plans .. adapt and change if need be ...

I find it very difficult to draw any parallels between China and Thailand. China is under perpetual one-party rule, while Thailand - over the course of the coming 2 decades - will (as usual) have seen about 12 dozen governments come and go in quick succession (and probably with a few military coups thrown in for good measure). It's incomparably easier to push through, uphold and adapt a five-year plan when you are the only one holding the reigns of power -- and stay in power indefinitely.  

[AgMech Cowboy]

22 hours ago, webfact said:

government efficiency

He says this yet Pheu Thai and their predecessor parties (Thai Rack Thai, etc.) were no shining examples of efficiency (rice buying scam, cancel bid results eventually awarded to someone special's wife, etc).

 

Thailand crash their economy in 1997 with a democratic government. The next group (the Democrats) were in the process of rebuilding the economy when Shinawatra was voted in. His first term was very productive, but he and his associates got greedy and more corrupt. I am sad he was removed from office by the coup d'etat, because I seriously think his government was on the decline. Had the attacks occurred on the Yellow shirt protesters that was the basis of the preemptive coup, he most assuredly would have lost. But it happened. Get over it and get with the plan.

 

Urge your family members to vote the way you tell them next election. ????  Get out your pocket book like Pheu Thai does upcountry (Isan and the North) and get this group out of there.

Edited June 19, 2020 by AgMech Cowboy

[chainarong]

23 hours ago, CLS said:

Who with half a brain would invest in a failed state?

 

Covid-19 has shown that doing business in Thailand is a No-No.

CEOs of foreign companies that are locked out of the country will reassess their plans.

Under Thai law U have to form a Thai company and partnership, so the CEO would be living in Thailand.

[Baerboxer]

3 hours ago, AgMech Cowboy said:

He says this yet Pheu Thai and their predecessor parties (Thai Rack Thai, etc.) were no shining examples of efficiency (rice buying scam, cancel bid results eventually awarded to someone special's wife, etc).

 

Thailand crash their economy in 1997 with a democratic government. The next group (the Democrats) were in the process of rebuilding the economy when Shinawatra was voted in. His first term was very productive, but he and his associates got greedy and more corrupt. I am sad he was removed from office by the coup d'etat, because I seriously think his government was on the decline. Had the attacks occurred on the Yellow shirt protesters that was the basis of the preemptive coup, he most assuredly would have lost. But it happened. Get over it and get with the plan.

 

Urge your family members to vote the way you tell them next election. ????  Get out your pocket book like Pheu Thai does upcountry (Isan and the North) and get this group out of there.

 

Indeed. Except Thaksin who famously said democracy wasn't his objective, wasn't removed by a coup.

 

He had dissolved parliament, and then resigned as care taker PM. A new caretaker was appointed and was legally in office until the election could be organized. Thaksin then decided he wanted the job back so just took it on no authority but his own. He was then dragging his heels on an election because as you say, he and his party were on the decline. He was removed by the military when on the way to represent Thailand in the UN, which he had no legal right to do.

 

His actions and comments show he has no interest or regard for democracy or the law. 

[DrTuner]

No ploplem, new Northern Masters don't need a stinking democracy. Good old commie ways will fix 'er right up.

[holy cow cm]

On 6/18/2020 at 2:50 PM, webfact said:

He added that if the government was too afraid to change, the country's competitiveness could drop further.

Has nothing afraid to do with it. Purely a military and Elite control factor where it is impossible for Democracy to survive. It is all about control and wealth. 

[Mr Meeseeks]

4 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Indeed. Except Thaksin who famously said democracy wasn't his objective, wasn't removed by a coup.

 

He had dissolved parliament, and then resigned as care taker PM. A new caretaker was appointed and was legally in office until the election could be organized. Thaksin then decided he wanted the job back so just took it on no authority but his own. He was then dragging his heels on an election because as you say, he and his party were on the decline. He was removed by the military when on the way to represent Thailand in the UN, which he had no legal right to do.

 

His actions and comments show he has no interest or regard for democracy or the law. 

He had, and has, far more regard for democracy and law than the current mob, and I was no fan of Thaksin but the coup was staged to remove the Thai Rak Thai government and for no other reason.

 

That government would have won a landslide election victory easily had the scheduled elections taken place whether you would like to admit that or not.

 

There is no excuse for thwarting democracy, however weak that democracy may be.

 

In addition, the whole thing was started after Sondhi's mate Viroj was removed (correctly IMO) as CEO of KTB after billions of Baht worth of non-performing loans were given out and he had forgiven 1.6 billion Baht of Sondhi's personal debt with more 'forgiveness' in the offing.

 

It was a classic move by Sondhi, getting a bit of revenge, and who of course was a media mogul and used his media machine to all out attack Thaksin, which feeble minded people bought into and came out onto the streets clad in yellow.

 

Of course, looking at it objectively, it was just more Thai sneak thievery and soap opera games but a large percentage of the expat community does not understand Thais or their culture at all and bought the whole charade hook, line and sinker. 

 

Dummies. 

 

 

Edited June 19, 2020 by Mr Meeseeks

[Reigntax]

On 6/18/2020 at 6:23 PM, mr mr said:

please anusorn jai yen yen and allow time for the 20 year plan to fully be realized. we all know the pm will work tirelessly in order to execute said plan. 

 

why not give him more of your support to unite thailand ? rather than divide it with your rhetoric ?

Do you mean give him 30 years to implement the 20 year plan?

 

Probably still not long enough !!!.

[nong38]

Should never have given the military weapons, it goes to their heads and they become delusionary about their competency to handle them properly, but, above all they forgot that it the Military's job to support the Government not to be the Government. Well thats how it works in democratic countries.

[holy cow cm]

17 hours ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

He had, and has, far more regard for democracy and law than the current mob, and I was no fan of Thaksin but the coup was staged to remove the Thai Rak Thai government and for no other reason.

 

That government would have won a landslide election victory easily had the scheduled elections taken place whether you would like to admit that or not.

 

There is no excuse for thwarting democracy, however weak that democracy may be.

 

In addition, the whole thing was started after Sondhi's mate Viroj was removed (correctly IMO) as CEO of KTB after billions of Baht worth of non-performing loans were given out and he had forgiven 1.6 billion Baht of Sondhi's personal debt with more 'forgiveness' in the offing.

 

It was a classic move by Sondhi, getting a bit of revenge, and who of course was a media mogul and used his media machine to all out attack Thaksin, which feeble minded people bought into and came out onto the streets clad in yellow.

 

Of course, looking at it objectively, it was just more Thai sneak thievery and soap opera games but a large percentage of the expat community does not understand Thais or their culture at all and bought the whole charade hook, line and sinker. 

 

Dummies. 

 

 

A little bit more to it than that of a subject that is taboo to talk about, but the hatred between Sondhi and Thaskin was the spark that ignited the fuel..