Photo Courtesy of Istock

 

by Mitch Connor

Two prominent civil society groups urged the Senate to honour the majority’s decision in favour of Pita Limjaroenrat, the Move Forward Party’s (MFP) candidate for prime minister.

 

The Rural Doctors Society (RDS) and the Law CU Student Committee, Faculty of Law, Chulalongkorn University (CU), expressed their support for the MFP to lead a coalition government with Pita at the helm.

 

The MFP has secured 310 MPs from five previous opposition parties and one new party. However, it still requires the backing of 66 senators to reach the necessary 376 votes to confirm their choice of prime minister, as per the constitution.

In a statement, the RDS emphasized the importance of respecting the people’s overwhelming electoral mandate by voting in favour of Pita as the country’s next prime minister. The RDS stated that adhering to the majority’s voice is a fundamental principle of democracy. The statement said…

 

“The RDS would like to call on the 250 senators to create real democracy by respecting the majority’s will and give their support to Pita Limjaroenrat.”

Similarly, the Law CU Student Committee issued a statement urging senators to support Pita as prime minister and for all political parties to accept the people’s vote.

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/national/groups-urge-senate-to-back-majoritys-choice-for-prime-minister-pita-limjaroenrat

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-05-17

 

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If 80 or so MPs from smaller parties were to accept the will of the people and vote accordingly, the votes of the senators would be irrelevant.

Those senators need to be named and shamed. Boycotts of any businesses they are connected to should be started. Make their lives hell

33 minutes ago, pegman said:

Those senators need to be named and shamed. Boycotts of any businesses they are connected to should be started. Make their lives hell

Already begun, Thai social media is full of it. Just getting names addresses and phone numbers now. Where do they shop, eat, fill their car with petrol and the such are active topics.

1 hour ago, pegman said:

Those senators need to be named and shamed. Boycotts of any businesses they are connected to should be started. Make their lives hell

It's about checks and balances and these senators will help to provide a smooth transition of power.

Off topic posts on the rice scheme and democrats in the US removed.

2 hours ago, chickenslegs said:

If 80 or so MPs from smaller parties were to accept the will of the people and vote accordingly, the votes of the senators would be irrelevant.

What about the will of the other citizens of Thailand that did not vote for the Move Forward party. These senators will be able to represent them.

2 minutes ago, Keep Right said:

What about the will of the other citizens of Thailand that did not vote for the Move Forward party. These senators will be able to represent them.

Those senators do not represent anyone except the people who appointed them. I.e.- not the electorate.

6 minutes ago, Keep Right said:

What about the will of the other citizens of Thailand that did not vote for the Move Forward party. These senators will be able to represent them.

Those senators do not represent the any segment of the citizens as the citizens play no part in their appointment. Seem they represent the elites/military and there to protect their interests not the citizens. 

14 minutes ago, Keep Right said:

It's about checks and balances and these senators will help to provide a smooth transition of power.

Are you aiming for the prize - 'joke of the year'.

1 minute ago, Eric Loh said:

Those senators do not represent the any segment of the citizens as the citizens play no part in their appointment. Seem they represent the elites/military and there to protect their interests not the citizens. 

Glorification of the wonderful brave military.

But in reality it's all within the boundaries of the military families.  

14 minutes ago, Keep Right said:

It's about checks and balances and these senators will help to provide a smooth transition of power.

More like partisan checks and imbalances to disrupt the smooth transition of power. 

31 minutes ago, Keep Right said:

What about the will of the other citizens of Thailand that did not vote for the Move Forward party. These senators will be able to represent them.

The senators should vote according to their individual personal values and conscience, not as an organized controlled 'yes sir' <with salute> mob.

Edited May 17, 20233 yr by scorecard

Unsubstantiated troll comments, posts and replies have been removed.

1 hour ago, Keep Right said:

What about the will of the other citizens of Thailand that did not vote for the Move Forward party. These senators will be able to represent them.

I assume that’s satire, because you cannot possibly have such a distorted understanding of what democracy means

4 hours ago, webfact said:

“The RDS would like to call on the 250 senators to create real democracy by respecting the majority’s will and give their support to Pita Limjaroenrat.”

What people like/want is one thing, what they've had to put up with is something entirely different.

Do they think the senate will change their ways just because the Two P's are history?

2 hours ago, Keep Right said:

What about the will of the other citizens of Thailand that did not vote for the Move Forward party. These senators will be able to represent them.

 

They didn't do that during the tenure of the last governing coalition.

 

They made absolutely no attempt to represent the citizens of Thailand who, for example, voted PTP or FF in the election of 2019.

 

In fact they did exactly the opposite.......they stood resolutely against the people who did not vote for the post 2019 government.

 

So your suggestion that the Senate should be allowed to "double up" the opposition parties now is..........******* ludicrous!

 

 

 

 

Edited May 17, 20233 yr by Enoon

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

What people like/want is one thing, what they've had to put up with is something entirely different.

Do they think the senate will change their ways just because the Two P's are history?

Good points.

 

Sure in recent times the senate has been a support mechanism to the 2 Ps.

 

The bigger reality is that they are a support mechanism for the overall deep seated glory of the whole Thai military.

 

They believe they are very entitled to be glorified and put on pedistals and the whole populace should bow to them.

 

Some reading of Thai history will easily verify the above.

 

Is the military ready for change / inclined towards more up with the times thinking on this subject / move to an attitude that the roleof the military is to repect / protect the whole populace? 

 

NO!  It's all about glorification of the military.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 17, 20233 yr by scorecard

5 hours ago, chickenslegs said:

Those senators do not represent anyone except the people who appointed them. I.e.- not the electorate.

The Jurey is out on that one, a bit after the last Coupe, remember the referendum to change the constitution, one of main clause was that the 250 Senat members to be appointed, and they will play a crucial role in choosing the PM.

 Much to the Suprise of the Thai people. and most outside the country it was excepted.

Now it looks like it will come back and bite them in the backside.

20 minutes ago, kickstart said:

The Jurey is out on that one, a bit after the last Coupe, remember the referendum to change the constitution, one of main clause was that the 250 Senat members to be appointed, and they will play a crucial role in choosing the PM.

 Much to the Suprise of the Thai people. and most outside the country it was excepted.

Now it looks like it will come back and bite them in the backside.

Why do they need 250 senaters and 500 in reps? 100 and 200 be enough!

7 hours ago, marin said:

Already begun, Thai social media is full of it. Just getting names addresses and phone numbers now. Where do they shop, eat, fill their car with petrol and the such are active topics.

That is great to hear. I use to enjoy arranging campaigns like that. Takes me back to my militant union boss days.

Edited May 17, 20233 yr by pegman

31 minutes ago, kickstart said:

The Jurey is out on that one, a bit after the last Coupe, remember the referendum to change the constitution, one of main clause was that the 250 Senat members to be appointed, and they will play a crucial role in choosing the PM.

 Much to the Suprise of the Thai people. and most outside the country it was excepted.

Now it looks like it will come back and bite them in the backside.

IIRC the people were given a choice: Vote to accept the new constitution, written by the military, and we can return to democracy or; remain under military rule for an indefinite period. Hobson's choice.