Corruption and the role of the unelected Senate in electing the next PM to be General Election issues

[webfact]

This week, on Monday, Prime Minister Prayut Chan ocha (right) dived into the political world with his unveiling by the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party (RTSC) in Bangkok. His candidacy was roundly criticised by Deputy Pheu Thai Party spokesperson and candidate for Roiet Ms Chayapa Sinthuprai (centre left) who questioned the former coup leader’s commitment to democracy and habit of doing what he said he would not do at the last minute. This comes as the bombshell revelations being produced by whistleblower Mr Chuwit Kamolvisit (inset centre) are increasingly taking on a political significance. Move Forward Party leader Mr Pita Limjaroenrat (left) has urged the Thai public to break away from the past in the expected General Election this summer by voting for a new Thailand. 

 

by Joseph O' Connor

A recent Super Poll result showed that over 95% of Thai people want to see a new prime minister in 2023 but an even larger group, 97.3%, support the corruption-busting campaign of bombshell revelation being waged by former politician and massage parlour boss Mr Chuwit Kamolvisit who has now emerged as an unlikely national hero.

 

In any other democracy, it would be a foregone conclusion that the current coalition government is on the verge of being swept away with a palpable desire within the population for change.

 

However, Section 272 of the 2017 Constitution, giving the unelected and junta-handpicked Thai Senate a role in electing the next prime minister, is now looking like it may become a controversial factor in the political equation.

 

The prospect of a scorchingly hot General Election campaign in Thailand is growing as it becomes clear that the political manoeuvrings of both General Prayut and General Prawit are aimed at leveraging the key advantage the former military junta leaders hold with the control of the country’s unelected Senate while playing democratic roles linked with two political parties. 

 

Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2023/01/11/corruption-and-unelected-senate-are-election-issues/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2023-01-12

 

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[Snig27]

Wasn't that the whole point of the coup? To ensure that the people of Thailand are never allowed to get in the way of the bloodsucking of the nation's money and control by a tiny elite ever again. Hence why the courts were rebuilt with lackeys and the senate was created as it is now. And no discussion of the constitution was allowed before the so-called 'referendum. 

[ikke1959]

The unelected senators, should have no votes at all in the choice of a new PM.. They are not selected by the people, but appointed by the Junta and that is no democracy... As soon as possible this group should be dismissed and vanish from the political stage... They only damage the country 

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The prospect of a scorchingly hot General Election campaign in Thailand is growing as it becomes clear that the political manoeuvrings of both General Prayut and General Prawit are aimed at leveraging the key advantage the former military junta leaders hold with the control of the country’s unelected Senate while playing democratic roles linked with two political parties.

Democracy my backside.

[mikebell]

49 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

They only damage the country 

So?  If it improves their bank balance anything goes.

[RichardColeman]

High paying, unelected job for life, what's not to love about that

[Thailand]

If anyone thinks there is going to be any change in who runs the country after any "election" for the foreseeable future they have not be following what happened since 2014.

[ezzra]

Not sure if Thailand was founded on corruption, but it sure didn't took it long to make it a way of life here so much so that even the youngest knows that what the laws doesn't allow, the baht in the right pocket will...

[internationalism]

yesterday Chuvit passed his corruption dossier to Ransiman, the MP from the Future Forward.

Good timing, as police are stalling investigation into their own at immigration department.

 

Rangsiman is an outstanding brave politician and democracy activist, who exposed the elephant tickets scandal, human trafficking of rohingha to Malaysia and mass graves, and many more scandals.

He will sure make a good use of this dossier, probably at the nearest censure debate.

That likely to get a few more percent of future forward voters at the general election.

 

Interesting, how high are the government figures implicated in covering chinese triads in thailand.

How many senators are among them

 

[PETERTHEEATER]

9 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Democracy my backside.

Yes, I'm here. Had a quick look but from what I see it's a bum deal......????

[fgmr]

10 hours ago, internationalism said:

yesterday Chuvit passed his corruption dossier to Ransiman, the MP from the Future Forward.

Good timing, as police are stalling investigation into their own at immigration department.

 

Rangsiman is an outstanding brave politician and democracy activist, who exposed the elephant tickets scandal, human trafficking of rohingha to Malaysia and mass graves, and many more scandals.

He will sure make a good use of this dossier, probably at the nearest censure debate.

That likely to get a few more percent of future forward voters at the general election.

 

Interesting, how high are the government figures implicated in covering chinese triads in thailand.

How many senators are among them

 

What about connections with the Russian mafia?

 

 

[zzaa09]

15 hours ago, Snig27 said:

Wasn't that the whole point of the coup? To ensure that the people of Thailand are never allowed to get in the way of the bloodsucking of the nation's money and control by a tiny elite ever again. Hence why the courts were rebuilt with lackeys and the senate was created as it is now. And no discussion of the constitution was allowed before the so-called 'referendum. 

All this - commonplace forever. 

Referred to as Thai Style Democracy.