Prayut hails economic progress by his government but his path to reelection next summer is unclear

[webfact]

Prime Minister Prayut Chan ocha took to social media on Saturday to herald his government’s gains this year as rumours swirl that a General Election will be called in late November

 

by Joseph O' Connor

Political experts and commentators have been talking up the prospects of the Bhumjaithai Party as a ‘neutral’ actor on the receiving end of defections with reports of further in the pipeline before the next General Election.

 

However, the party’s opinion poll support in national terms remains at 2.4%, just behind even newly formed parties and certainly behind the Pheu Thai, Move Forward, the Democrats and even Palang Pracharat. Recent bye-elections and opinion polls point to growing support for both the Pheu Thai Party on one side of the political divide and the Democrat Party on the other despite the long-winded prognostications of experts forecasting Bhumjaithai Party leader, Anutin Charnvirakul, as the next prime minister.

On Saturday, General Prayut Chan ocha hailed his government’s economic achievements this year as it is thought a General Election will be called in late November. An opinion poll in Southern provinces, on Sunday, showed the PM, who has been in office since 2014, leading the field among southern voters as the most popular choice for prime minister with 23.94% support.

 

However, the kingdom’s political future is very muddled right now with the legal basis for the next election up in the air while a path back to power for Prayut next summer looks tortuous and hard to see clearly. This is due to strong support for the opposition Pheu Thai Party and on the other side of the political divide, the Democrat Party.  

 

Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2022/10/23/pm-hails-economic-progress-as-election-looms-leads-south-poll/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2022-10-24

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

[2baht]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

defections

Like rats off a sinking ship! ????????????

[pegman]

Who needs popular support when you have the military on your side. 

[sammieuk1]

He means the Swiss accounts are overflowing with enough to buy some more time.. end of translation ????

[RichardColeman]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

as it is thought a General Election will be called in late November.

Nobody calls an election until everything is in place - including preparation of the army for a loss

[herfiehandbag]

Path to re-election?

Identify opposition parties.

Arrange bans of key individuals and possibly even whole parties, to be enacted close to the election date. Post election continue counting, recounting, reallocating, interpreting and banning individuals, and if necessary parties until the incumbents, along with their inbuilt majority in the senate, are secure.

 

Hold available the option of instituting as state of emergency (COVID hasn't gone away you know, but there are bound to be other reasons as well) in case those you have disenfranchised take it a bit personally.

[Sydebolle]

In the West it is called "blowing its own trumpet" - me thinks!

[brianthainess]

Poor old Prayuth, will he become homeless if he is not PM ? or will he continue to live in the barracks ?  

[crazykopite]

That smile on his face tells us all he knows something that we don’t in 20/30 years time China will be in Charge of Thailand he’s selling his soul to the devil 

[hotchilli]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

On Saturday, General Prayut Chan ocha hailed his government’s economic achievements this year as it is thought a General Election will be called in late November. An opinion poll in Southern provinces, on Sunday, showed the PM, who has been in office since 2014, leading the field among southern voters as the most popular choice for prime minister with 23.94% support.

Delusional.

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, herfiehandbag said:

Path to re-election?

Identify opposition parties.

Arrange bans of key individuals and possibly even whole parties, to be enacted close to the election date. Post election continue counting, recounting, reallocating, interpreting and banning individuals, and if necessary parties until the incumbents, along with their inbuilt majority in the senate, are secure.

 

Hold available the option of instituting as state of emergency (COVID hasn't gone away you know, but there are bound to be other reasons as well) in case those you have disenfranchised take it a bit personally.

Well spotted.

[jchfriis]

2 hours ago, Sydebolle said:

In the West it is called "blowing its own trumpet" - me thinks!

Self praised is well praised ????

[NoshowJones]

6 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Nobody calls an election until everything is in place - including preparation of the army for a loss

Or the 200 odd generals have their brown envelopes ready.

[khunpa]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

On Saturday, General Prayut Chan ocha hailed his government’s economic achievements this year as it is thought a General Election will be called in late November. An opinion poll in Southern provinces, on Sunday, showed the PM, who has been in office since 2014, leading the field among southern voters as the most popular choice for prime minister with 23.94% support.

A true hero, beloved leader and even financial wizard, who has ensured true happiness to all Thai people. 

 

Happy to see the polls are in his favor, so he can continue moving the country forward and make Thailand the strongest nation in the universe.

 

I have no doubt that the whole world will soon be speaking only Thai, as he promised during his first years in office.

 

[rudi49jr]

If you think taking a dive off a cliff is economic progress, then Prayuth is right. But in the real world he’s not. The elite, including this government, is completely out of touch with reality.

[bamnutsak]

9 hours ago, herfiehandbag said:

Path to re-election?

 

Good question.

 

Notably Prayut does not stand for election as an MP, nor is he the leader of the PPP. The Thai people are like the frog and the pot of water.

 

And I'm struggling to understand why there are no local (provincial) elections (other than Bangkok and maybe Pattaya). With governors appointed by Bangkok. Does the amart think the country folk are just not smart enough to be trusted with a vote?

 

 

[herfiehandbag]

13 hours ago, bamnutsak said:

 

Good question.

 

Notably Prayut does not stand for election as an MP, nor is he the leader of the PPP. The Thai people are like the frog and the pot of water.

 

And I'm struggling to understand why there are no local (provincial) elections (other than Bangkok and maybe Pattaya). With governors appointed by Bangkok. Does the amart think the country folk are just not smart enough to be trusted with a vote?

 

 

A significant part of this governments power base is it's close alliance with the civil service.

Giving the civil service control at (up to)  provincial level, without any sort of elected direction or oversight keeps them "on side". They can run things to their liking ( and benefit) without interference. 

 

It also removes another route for political opposition and dissent! Can you imagine the problems if swathes of the country were run by elected governors who wanted things done differently - for a regime as centralised and dictatorial as this one it would be a nightmare!