Whip hand with Pheu Thai to secure power in this year’s General Election despite Senate’s power

[webfact]

(Right) Pheu Thai’s leading candidate for prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra or Ung Ing celebrating Chinese New Year in Bangkok with another tipped candidate for the job, property developer tycoon Srettha Thavisin. (Left) General Prawit Wongsuwan, Deputy Prime Minister and Prime Minister Prayut Chan ocha, now appear to be pursuing divergent political paths. One is likely to be prime minister after the 2023 General Election in the summer. It is more likely to be Ms Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the favourite in national opinion polls.

 

by Joseph O' Connor

A strong political performance is still required from the Pheu Thai Party but if it manages to secure over 200 seats in the next General Election, it represents the only viable basis for establishing an effective and secure coalition government especially as the controversial power of the Senate under Section 272 of the constitution in electing a prime minister will expire within a year.

The odds are rising on a new prime minister taking over the role from General Prayut after the May 7th General Election despite insistent claims from analysts and pundits on the Bangkok media scene that the incumbent has the whip hand with the support of the Thai Senate which will have its say in the election of a prime minister this summer for the last time under a provision of the 2017 Thai constitution. It appears clear that if Pheu Thai can maintain its current popularity, there will be a governing coalition option open to it after the poll with the reassuring prospect that after June 2024, the power of the Senate in this respect will have become a thing of the past.

On Monday, the Pheu Thai Party Secretary-general Prasert Jantararuangtong insisted that his party would continue to push for the House of Representatives to hold a debate on the government in February in which it has promised to highlight current corruption scandals, in particular concerning Chinese mafia dealings and influence within government agencies.

 

Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2023/01/23/whip-hand-with-pheu-thai-to-secure-power-election-2023/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2023-01-24

 

- 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!

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

It appears clear that if Pheu Thai can maintain its current popularity, there will be a governing coalition option open to it after the poll with the reassuring prospect that after June 2024, the power of the Senate in this respect will have become a thing of the past.

Not a moment too soon in my book.

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

On Monday, the Pheu Thai Party Secretary-general Prasert Jantararuangtong insisted that his party would continue to push for the House of Representatives to hold a debate on the government in February in which it has promised to highlight current corruption scandals, in particular concerning Chinese mafia dealings and influence within government agencies.

How about the 3M Chinese donation from a now arrested man, how's that investigation going?

[jcmj]

I think their crystal ball is defective. No one will know the outcome until it’s over. 

[zzaa09]

Wouldn't wanna be holding my breath.

They have proven practices, historically, of ensuring everything goes their way.

[Thailand]

The ptb and backers will ensure that current incumbents time in power continues.

 

One way or another!

[sammieuk1]

Let the new crop of unusually wealthy begin growing ????

[BritScot]

10 hours ago, jcmj said:

I think their crystal ball is defective. No one will know the outcome until it’s over. 

I think you will find they already know! Tanks engines on, armoury door open and me standing too!!!!. 

 

When another election is stolen or military takeovers then I believe we will witness a dramatic end to thailand as the final foreign invertments leave.. 

[MrMojoRisin]

11 hours ago, zzaa09 said:

Wouldn't wanna be holding my breath.

They have proven practices, historically, of ensuring everything goes their way.

Nah, hold your breath, you’ll be fine.

It is going to be a landslide victory for the good guys.

The last successful coup in Thailand has already happened.

There is an ever growing likelihood Prayuth will be off to jail or exile.

Happy days ahead.

 

[zzaa09]

25 minutes ago, MrMojoRisin said:

Nah, hold your breath, you’ll be fine.

It is going to be a landslide victory for the good guys.

The last successful coup in Thailand has already happened.

There is an ever growing likelihood Prayuth will be off to jail or exile.

Happy days ahead.

 

How can one be so certain that the Pheu Thai circles are the good guys? 

The last coup? Highly doubt that. 

.....and Prayut and his ilk will never see prison time or exiled. 

 

Oh dear.

Another one that clearly doesn't comprehend how things work here or dismissive of historic affairs. 

Instead, viewing most everything through naive and tinted [and Eurocentric] glasses - seems to be the fashion within this venue.

[herfiehandbag]

11 hours ago, zzaa09 said:

How can one be so certain that the Pheu Thai circles are the good guys? 

The last coup? Highly doubt that. 

.....and Prayut and his ilk will never see prison time or exiled. 

 

Oh dear.

Another one that clearly doesn't comprehend how things work here or dismissive of historic affairs. 

Instead, viewing most everything through naive and tinted [and Eurocentric] glasses - seems to be the fashion within this venue.

OK, just for once @zzaa09, just for once, explain just how it does happen!

 

You continually, virtually daily, post suggesting that "things are ever this", accusing others of being naive, having "rose tinted glasses" and of failing to understand the cultural circumstances around Thai politics. Yet you never provide any actual reasons, or even suggestions, to back up your claimed knowledge. It is all vague assertions based on you knowing so much more than anyone else.

 

Is it all just a construction to prop an assumed air of superiority, of somehow being so much cleverer than anyone else?

[MrMojoRisin]

21 hours ago, zzaa09 said:

How can one be so certain that the Pheu Thai circles are the good guys? 

The last coup? Highly doubt that. 

.....and Prayut and his ilk will never see prison time or exiled. 

 

Oh dear.

Another one that clearly doesn't comprehend how things work here or dismissive of historic affairs. 

Instead, viewing most everything through naive and tinted [and Eurocentric] glasses - seems to be the fashion within this venue.

Q1. How can one be so certain that the Pheu Thai circles are the good guys? 

A1. Because those opposed them, Prayuth et al,  are so utterly and irredeemably awful.

 

Q2. The last coup? Highly doubt that. 

A2. It's not that you highly doubt it, it's more that you don't want it to be the true....how sad for you.

 

Q3. .....and Prayut and his ilk will never see prison time or exiled.

A3. Again, you just don't want this to be a possibility (understandable as nobody wants their idols locked up, do they now?)

 

Q4. 

Another one that clearly doesn't comprehend how things work here or dismissive of historic affairs. 

Instead, viewing most everything through naive and tinted [and Eurocentric] glasses - seems to be the fashion within this venue.

A4. What was once in fashion "within this venue", was hordes of junta cheering expats freely exchanging their derogatory and racist views of the average Thai, deluding themselves of their own superiority. Unfortunately for these ignorant asses, their beloved junta performed so dismally that it quickly became an embarrassment to all but the most intellectually deficient rabid right wing nutters to publicly proffer even the faintest of support for the illegal oppressive regime which they so love.

Oh dear.

[zzaa09]

Looks like some require a real and true lesson of Thai cultural affairs and how things work here.

I fear a bit hopeless, though. 

[MrMojoRisin]

53 minutes ago, zzaa09 said:

Looks like some require a real and true lesson of Thai cultural affairs and how things work here.

I fear a bit hopeless, though. 

You won't find too many volunteers willing to drink your Kool aid brother.

Your moribund views are perhaps the only thing in Thailand less popular than Prayuth.

What's hopeless is your ill informed pessimism.

Change is the only constant.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2ZID9M5_dU

Edited January 25, 2023 by MrMojoRisin

[herfiehandbag]

1 hour ago, zzaa09 said:

Looks like some require a real and true lesson of Thai cultural affairs and how things work here.

I fear a bit hopeless, though. 

Well then, you, by your own admittance are the ideal candidate to give such lessons, off you go, fill your boots as they say.

 

Or is it the old adage - "empty vessels make the most noise"?