Poll supports retention of the one ballot election process which would torpedo Pheu Thai hopes

[webfact]

Another recent National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) national poll showed that Prime Minister Prayut Chan ocha (centre) had fallen behind the leader of the Move Forward Party Pita Limjaroenrat (inset top left) as the public favourite for the role. The latest poll on Sunday showed strong public support for retaining the 2019 voting system, which benefits smaller parties, comes after coalition parties on a parliamentary committee, on March 28th, voted through a measure to preclude number synchronisation between parties and candidates. A possible drift back towards the 2019 election voting process would mean any prospect of a Pheu Thai Party landslide led by Paetongtarn Shinawatra (inset bottom right), the daughter of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, is receding.

 

by Joseph O' Connor

 

The developments over the last week including a key committee vote in parliament on March 28th not to allow synchronised numbering for parties and candidates and the latest opinion poll suggesting support for restoring the 2019 voting system, could see the opposition push harder for an early election. It comes as there is a growing doubt that 10 bills passed by parliament last September to change the voting laws back to a dual ballot system and increase the number of constituency seats from 350 to 400 will make it through parliament in their present format after being scrutinised by MPs and the powerful committee with oversight of the legislation.

 

As the Palang Pracharat Party met on Sunday, it elected new committee members and confirmed acting Secretary-general Santi Prompat in the role, it is becoming increasingly clear that lawmakers aligned with government parties are moving back towards a dual ballot system and retention of the voting system used in the 2019 general election which saw smaller parties having the edge and the leading Pheu Thai Party only winning 132 seats.

 

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On Sunday, an opinion poll showed strong public support for retaining such a process based on allowing smaller political parties to be elected. This outcome could scupper raised hopes in recent weeks among the ranks of the Pheu Thai Party with the expected candidacy of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra’s daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra, that the party could win a landslide in the House of Representatives and bring an end to the rule of General Prayut Chan ocha who has been Prime Minister since 2014.

 

Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2022/04/04/poll-shows-support-for-2019-voting-system-pheu-thai-landslide-torpedoed/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2022-04-05

 

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[candide]

I doubt that even a "landslide" would be enough to counterbalance the weight of the unelected Senate.

[RandiRona]

Well...Junta already got it with free 250 seats so it doesnt matter.....Prayut may be replaced with another General.

[hotchilli]

Possibly a change at the top but not the ruling government with the rules as they stand.

[zzaa09]

3 hours ago, candide said:

I doubt that even a "landslide" would be enough to counterbalance the weight of the unelected Senate.

Nor would they allow it. 

Same as it ever was.

[ikke1959]

Remove the 250 senators first.......Than you can start to have a real democracy maybe, but with 250 friends who always agree there is no chance 

[unblocktheplanet]

Appears we're screwed for the foreseeable future.

[Muhendis]

46 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Appears we're screwed for the foreseeable future.

You might be screwed for the foreseeable future, but not me.

I'm not Thai. ????

[Thailand]

3 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Possibly a change at the top but not the ruling government with the rules as they stand.

100% - probably by the end of the third quarter of this year.

But as you said nothing will change.

[JCauto]

Knowing the integrity of NIDA and their polling, I would not be at all surprised if the actual question asked was "Do you support retention of the one ballot election process which would torpedo Pheu Thai hopes?"

[internationalism]

That change would be good for the future forward, so that would be a positive development. 
i would also expect some radical opposition movements to form parties and run for election. There is still time. And they have a chance to win a few seats each. 
That would serve as a back up to a almost certain ban on future forward on lese majeste charges for their MP questioning huge multibillion royal household budget presented on a mere 7 pages paper. 
Also many of the winners from the future forward will have lese majeste thrown personally against them. That is plan in the making.