Thai PM survives no confidence vote as more anti-government protests planned

[webfact]

FILE PHOTO: Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha arrives before a family photo session with new cabinet ministers at the Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, March 30, 2021. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and five cabinet ministers comfortably survived a vote of no confidence in parliament on Saturday as activists planned more protests against the government.

 

Prayuth received 264 votes in favour and 208 against. Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and four other cabinet ministers also survived the censure motion in similar fashion.

 

The opposition needed 242 of the 482 parliamentary votes to oust the prime minister.

 

Prayuth said he remained confident after the vote.

 

Lawmakers over four days accused his government of mishandling the pandemic and criticised him for the severe economic impact, taking aim at the government’s slow vaccine rollout as a result of not making advance vaccine orders and deciding not to join the international COVAX vaccine-supply scheme.

 

Prayuth has stood by those decisions.

 

This is the third censure motion the government has survived and comes as pro-democracy protesters plan more demonstrations on Saturday.

 

Recent rallies have turned violent, with security forces using tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets against protesters who threw stones and firecrackers.

 

Thailand has reported over 1.2 million infections and over 12,000 coronavirus-related deaths, most of them since April due to the Delta variant.

 

Authorities reported the largest single-day increase in cases in mid-August with over 23,000 cases.

 

The vaccine rollout began in June amid the country's most severe outbreak, with people unable to find medical treatment and some dying at home. About 13% of Thailand's more than 66 million have been fully vaccinated.

 

The government cut its 2021 economic growth forecast for a third time, to 0.7%-1.2% from 1.5%-2.5%. The economy shrank 6.1% last year.

 

(Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing by William Mallard)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-09-04

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[ThailandRyan]

Of course he survived it, the MP's from his own party who I think out number the other party groups MPs are in his back pocket.  Was there ever any doubt he would be removed as well as Anutin.

[DrJack54]

Flabbergasted

[petermik]

Well done sir...truth and honesty has prevailed.....LOL...LOL...LOL

[darksidedog]

You really would do have to do something almost unimaginable here to lose such a vote, when you have so many unelected MP's in your pocket.

Shameful, but absolutely expected result, yet they wonder why the masses are on the streets protesting.

[fondue zoo]

They keep calling these censure debates, they know they can't win. At this point I think they enjoy making him (and his team) have to defend himself for a few days.

When is the next one?  ????

[Kevin Taylor]

It's almost not news, I wish the people luck in trying to get a government they want and actually vote for.

[trainman34014]

The only way to get them out is millions on the streets and not thousands together with a National Strike.  Make them bring the Army out to start shooting people in the full glare of World Publicity and something has to give.

[MrJ2U]

11 minutes ago, fondue zoo said:

they know they can't win.

But they do lose a little face.

[metisdead]

A post with an image using a profane gesture has been removed. 

[Andycoops]

45 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

You really would do have to do something almost unimaginable here to lose such a vote, when you have so many unelected MP's in your pocket.

Shameful, but absolutely expected result, yet they wonder why the masses are on the streets protesting.

They wonder because they fail to see how ordinary people and in particular young people, who are the future of the country, can see through the whole corrupt charade that this government is and governing for their own pockets at everyone else's expense.

[stigar]

wow..im really surprised

[khunpa]

And now he can slowly start to replace he had put in place and voted against him. That way he is also prepared for the next time.

 

 

 

Edited September 4, 2021 by khunpa

[RichardColeman]

Another kick in the balls for the freedom and democracy index

[klauskunkel]

I'm all for these debates, even if they can't remove him, because as long as he has to defend himself he can't hurt the country much.

[Scouse123]

He survived nothing.

 

He has already filled a lot of  government seats with military to stack all odds in his favour.

 

He has made a system where they cannot get him our. He is unpopular and hated in many quarters. He also refuses to accept that he cannot do the job.

[Rampant Rabbit]

NEW  DAZ washes  whiter 

[Marvin Hagler]

Amazing Thailand…Prayut paid 5,000,000 to a number of MP’s to voter for him. It is almost certain that the vast majority of votes cast today had to be paid for and probably a minimum $100k each.

 

This excercise probably cost the powers that be several million dollars. And they paid that money out of their own pocket for the love of the country!!! Yeah right.

 

They need to recoup those millions spent and will easily be able to do so from the corruption they reap from taxpayers money.

 

Thai politics is all about money and nothing else…it’s as low as you could possible for.

 

The docile populace get what they deserve unfortunately. 

[Smokey and the Bandit]

A foregone conclusion!!!

[ronster]

About as legitimate as the last election votes ! ????

[Gandtee]

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Flabbergasted

My flabber is absolutely gasted as well. Who would have Adam and Eved it?????

[johnarth]

his number of bodyguards will grow now, the ordinary Thais are learning he is fraud he will have trouble sleeping even if he wears his army uniform to bed

[off road pat]

1 hour ago, MrJ2U said:

But they do lose a little face.

The thing farang's don't understand is that people in high places can loose face multiple times, as long as they stay in there very well remunerated plus full benefits function. A function that gives them the possibility to gain more power and a whole lot more money than there high salary's.

 

[malibukid]

2 hours ago, darksidedog said:

You really would do have to do something almost unimaginable here to lose such a vote, when you have so many unelected MP's in your pocket.

Shameful, but absolutely expected result, yet they wonder why the masses are on the streets protesting.

third world country

[hotchilli]

55 minutes ago, Rampant Rabbit said:

NEW  DAZ washes  whiter 

I wish he'd start using Vanish.

[spidermike007]

With 250 bought and paid for members, there was never any chance of a censure. Only 14, who were not owned, voted to support him. Says alot. 

[Nip]

2 hours ago, trainman34014 said:

The only way to get them out is millions on the streets and not thousands together with a National Strike.  Make them bring the Army out to start shooting people in the full glare of World Publicity and something has to give.

I like to think that our Ambassadors and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade posses a modicum of righteousness and intelligence but they clearly don't because they and the inbedded inbred journalists openly cower and support this b@stard regeime. They are equally shameless since the word trade was added to the @ss end of Department of Foreign Affairs. Your absolutely correct nothing will change until the tanks appear again. 

[AhFarangJa]

1 hour ago, stigar said:

wow..im really surprised

I have a beachfront bungalow in Niger for sale if you are interested................

[metisdead]

Posts commenting on moderation have been removed. 

[Tonypandy]

I wonder which Thai PM faced the most censure motions in Thai political history. Anyone know?