Military-backed senators refuse to back MFP form a government

[webfact]

Photo via Facebook/ พรรคก้าวไกล - Move Forward Party

 

by Petch Petpailin

Military-backed senators yesterday told the Move Forward Party (MFP) that they won’t be helping them form a government. The MFP need at least 376 members to form a coalition government but Thai senators said that they won’t be getting any votes from them. They will have to find the votes from somewhere else if they have ambitions to run the country.

 

The MFP claimed victory in the 2023 General Election in Thailand after their policies resonated with the majority of the Thai people. As a consequence, the party’s prime ministerial candidate, 42 year old Pita Limchareonrat, is in line to be the 30th PM of Thailand.

The MFP reportedly claimed 152 seats according to the General Election’s unofficial result by the Election Commission of Thailand (EC). Pita announced yesterday that he had invited elected MPs from the Pheu Thai, Prachachat, Seri Ruam Thai, Thai Sang Thai, and Fair (Pen Dham) Parties to form a coalition government which would bring the total up to 310 seats.

 

However, the MFP needs at least 376 members to form a coalition government and secure the votes necessary for Pita to become the PM. However, most of the Senate wants the party which finished third, Bhumjaithai Party, to join the new government.

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/national/military-backed-senators-refuse-to-back-mfp-form-a-government

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-05-16

 

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[Crossy]

Is anyone even slightly surprised?

[BenStark]

I think the senate should be disbanded for a comment like this, since it makes very obvious that the members have no individual vote

[Chang_paarp]

To quote Gomer Pile

"Surprise, surprise surprise!"

[ikke1959]

And they wonder why Thailand voted for MFP and Pheu Thai... Get rid of these culprits now as they refuse to respect the will of the people and blocking to form quick a new Government. Disgraceful....

[bamnutsak]

So much for the will of the People.

 

And it is amusing that the appointed Senators are telling the elected MPs, what can and cannot happen.

 

Nice Democracy you got there, be a shame if something happened to it,

 

 

 

I don't think they can peel off ~ 68 Senators, at least not without promising not to pursue reforms, or bring back Thaksin.

 

 

[SABloke]

Does any anybody remember the results of the last election - I recall that the senators didn't vote 250 - 0 for Prayuth since the makeup is 150 Military 100 Industry/Private Sector - so MFP need only to convince a few of those 100 to vote for them. 

[statman78]

This should come as no surprise.  When the coup leaders developed the constitution they gave these unelected senators, which they appointed, the power to vote for the prime minister.  At the time I remember comments suggesting that this was needed because the general population might not elect the “right” people.  

[BenStark]

14 minutes ago, SABloke said:

Does any anybody remember the results of the last election - I recall that the senators didn't vote 250 - 0

I don't remember, but someone does.

 

https://www.fpps.or.th/news.php?detail=n1567399255.news

    Prayut’s 500 votes were beyond the 376 minimum requirements needed as stipulated in the constitution. All 250 senators voted to support him.

[Wiggy]

Let the games begin. 

[stoner]

53 minutes ago, Crossy said:

Is anyone even slightly surprised?

i'm floored....no wait that's the dabs. 

[stoner]

10 minutes ago, statman78 said:

At the time I remember comments suggesting that this was needed because the general population might not elect the “right” people.

seems the senators agree. 

[Can samui]

Batten down the hatches folks, there will be blood in the streets.

[Brian Hull]

As the military backed senators were appointed by an illegitimate self-appointed government, surely their appointments are not legitimate. Hopefully the new government will sack them all.

[Swiss1960]

Just now, Can samui said:

Batten down the hatches folks, there will be blood in the streets.

Unfortunately, you might be right. The millions of voters for Move Forward et al will not tolerate that.

[1happykamper]

Sigh. How predictable. 

 

Biggest voting turn out in history want change and the military guys refuse to listen. Very sad and pathetic. A country run by greedy thugs 

[PMinThailand]

People will be on the streets again very soon!

 

[Mavideol]

and I thought senators are to be elected by the people to work for the people....parliament and senate should be dissolved and "democratically" elect new ones

[RayOday]

No surprise,  "All things proceed in their circle; thus the empire is complete" W.B. Yeats

The class set up needs to be broken for democracy to thrive. 

A reminder:

Democracy is a form of government in which the people hold power. This power is exercised through elected representatives, who are chosen by the people to make decisions on their behalf. Democracy is based on the principle of popular sovereignty, which means that the people are the ultimate source of authority.

[Snig27]

If they won't roll over then methods of making them roll over need to be considered. They are an illegitimate force in an illegitimate government that the the people have said in no uncertain manner need to go.

More, according to reports rank and file military overwhelmingly voted for MFW. Pita just needs to stand his ground. They won't be able to stop him unless they want hundreds of thousands outside Parliament refusing to move. These scumbags are done and once they are gone some sort of commision needs to be set up to look into the fiscal activities of each while they were drawing their illegitimate salaries.

[h90]

1 hour ago, Crossy said:

Is anyone even slightly surprised?

Me....I thought that is too obvious and so they don't do that.

[h90]

3 minutes ago, Mavideol said:

and I thought senators are to be elected by the people to work for the people....parliament and senate should be dissolved and "democratically" elect new ones

You don't need a democratic elected senate because than it is not different than the parliament. You can save the costs. You can select them somehow different...like every former PM/Minister/Head of Supreme court gets a seat...so you have elderly wise people. Or better you drop it complete. Military appointed is just not OK

[Mavideol]

2 minutes ago, h90 said:

Me....I thought that is too obvious and so they don't do that.

same here thus 2 of us, didn't imagined them have the face to do what everybody is expecting them to do  555

[Mavideol]

1 minute ago, h90 said:

You don't need a democratic elected senate because than it is not different than the parliament. You can save the costs. You can select them somehow different...like every former PM/Minister/Head of Supreme court gets a seat...so you have elderly wise people. Or better you drop it complete. Military appointed is just not OK

sounds like a better option

[ourmanflint]

I imagine the populus will express their dissatisfaction with these senators in a very obvious way if they attempt to block the democratic transfer of power

[Eric Loh]

IMO unlikely that the military coalition can be formed as they simply don’t have the numbers even if they employed the old trick to pay MPs to switch side. Prayut and Anutin have indicted leaving politics and Prawit will soon follow with a privy council role. To pacify the ultra conservative senates, Pita may have to step aside for a more acceptable Sreetha. The new regime will ensure no chaos and unrest in his early reign. All

the premonition of unrest and blood unnecessary. 

[Purdey]

I seem to recall it is illegal to overthrow an elected government and every coup d'etat is accompanied by granting immunity to coup leaders. However, does anyone know whether such immunity is granted to those assisting the coup leaders (like senators, for instance)?

[Headgame]

My understanding and it has been reported that all 250 senators’ terms expire next year and are prohibited in the constitution from being reappointed. Not sure how that impacts the current scenario

[kidneyw]

So the voice of thirteen million people does not matter.

Only the voice of two hundred and fifty unscrupulous and shameless individuals.

[scottiejohn]

2 minutes ago, Headgame said:

My understanding and it has been reported that all 250 senators’ terms expire next year and are prohibited in the constitution from being reappointed. Not sure how that impacts the current scenario

An interesting point!

Do we know who will select the "new" senators?