Power struggle unfolds as MFP leader fights to claim prime ministerial seat

[webfact]

 

Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat Wednesday addressed allegations surrounding a contentious meeting of iTV shareholders and efforts to prevent him from becoming the next Prime Minister. While there is uncertainty about who is involved in these behind-the-scenes manoeuvres, the MFP’s legal team is gathering more evidence from those involved.

 

Pita acknowledges that the upcoming legal battle could impede his bid for prime minister, referring to the timeline of events in 2019 when Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit was ordered to stop performing his duties before the vote for prime minister, but was still able to be nominated.

 

The 42 year old confirmed that no officials warned him about the potential consequences of holding iTV shares and that he had been in constant contact with the National Anti-Corruption Commission, which had not raised any issues.

The MFP leader is also preparing to submit statements of assets and liabilities after stepping down as a member of parliament, with the deadline set for Sunday, June 18.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam emphasised that individuals suspended by the Constitutional Court pending legal proceedings cannot be nominated for the position of prime minister. He said…

“Amid an ongoing legal case, they cannot be nominated because they would not be able to perform their duties should they be selected.”

 

by Bob Scott

PHOTO: Facebook/Pita Limjaroenrat - พิธา ลิ้มเจริญรัตน์

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/politics/move-forward-party-leader-addresses-itv-shareholder-meeting-allegations-for-pm-bid

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-06-15

 

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[Pique Dard]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

 

Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat Wednesday addressed allegations surrounding a contentious meeting of iTV shareholders and efforts to prevent him from becoming the next Prime Minister.

...hurry up mr Pita Limjaroenrat! the military are watching you

[soalbundy]

Naive meets reality.

[sammieuk1]

Rolly Rolex is behind the scenes for sure as he denied it yesterday ????

[Enoon]

16 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

Naive meets reality.

Not at all.

 

Pita knew, absolutely, that the Old Order would be the worst sort of loser.

 

This is nothing compared to what is on the way........which has also been anticipated by the Democratic leadership.

 

You think that, after the sort of change they proposed, they did not expect that this would be the hardest of hardball games?

 

If anyone is showing naivety, and not a little contempt.......it's you.

 

 

 

Edited June 14, 2023 by Enoon

[soalbundy]

23 minutes ago, Enoon said:

Not at all.

 

Pita knew, absolutely, that the Old Order would be the worst sort of loser.

 

This is nothing compared to what is on the way........which has also been anticipated by the Democratic leadership.

 

You think that, after the sort of change they proposed, they did not expect that this would be the hardest of hardball games?

 

If anyone is showing naivety, and not a little contempt.......it's you.

 

 

 

Pita of all people should have been squeaky clean before election day, his anti-establishment party was bound to come under intense scrutiny, to say he wasn't warned that his media shares could cause trouble shows poor management at best. It is naive to think that 'the will of the people' will sway the apparatus that still has its hand on the tiller. MFP didn't get overall majority and must go to bed with other parties who all have their own agenda then there is the Senat of course. The party has already had to backtrack on some of its populist declarations The establishment has had hundreds of years of experience in dealing with threats to its authority, it will take more than a bunch of well meaning amateurs to knock them off their horses.

[zzaa09]

4 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

Pita of all people should have been squeaky clean before election day, his anti-establishment party was bound to come under intense scrutiny, to say he wasn't warned that his media shares could cause trouble shows poor management at best. It is naive to think that 'the will of the people' will sway the apparatus that still has its hand on the tiller. MFP didn't get overall majority and must go to bed with other parties who all have their own agenda then there is the Senat of course. The party has already had to backtrack on some of its populist declarations The establishment has had hundreds of years of experience in dealing with threats to its authority, it will take more than a bunch of well meaning amateurs to knock them off their horses.

Simply put, we shouldn't become too hopeful of any positive outcome in the coming days/weeks. 

The best that interested folks might consider is that PT will be handed the reins.......which is akin to doing business with the dinosaur cabal. 

 

What could be a blessing is that MF gains knowledge from this experience. 

[bamnutsak]

He's toast, unfortunately. He just doesn't realize it as it's happening so slowly.

 

Even if MFP retains more seats than PTP after red/yellow cards, and even if he is nominated for PM, he doesn't have enough votes (376).

 

The difference between now and 2001 is that Thaksin had a gigantic electoral mandate, ~ 248 seats from 500 and no patrician Senate "overseeing" the unreliable politicians. So the court had to allow him to be PM for fear of public outrage, by an 8-7 vote some six months after the King approved him as PM. He was of course dealt with subsequently.

 

That said, Pita might get enough votes - the Senate will be in on the fix, understanding that the courts will remove Pita within 4 months, to temporarily allow him to be PM to make things look "good".

 

 

 

[soalbundy]

3 minutes ago, zzaa09 said:

Simply put, we shouldn't become too hopeful of any positive outcome in the coming days/weeks. 

The best that interested folks might consider is that PT will be handed the reins.......which is akin to doing business with the dinosaur cabal. 

 

What could be a blessing is that MF gains knowledge from this experience. 

Who takes the trappings of power remains to be seen, usually the establishment always has some degree of power no matter what, or do you think that farangland is ruled by the 'will of the people'? It has taken several hundred years of courageous resistance by the working population, social leaders, authors and enlightened parliamentarians before working and living conditions changed for the better in the west and yet there is still an enormous disparity in wealth and land ownership. One can strike fear in a man better with a mortgage or rent than with an axe.

[hotchilli]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

The 42 year old confirmed that no officials warned him about the potential consequences of holding iTV shares and that he had been in constant contact with the National Anti-Corruption Commission, which had not raised any issues.

Unfortunately ignorance of the fact is no defense.

History of these matters is clear.

[klauskunkel]

11 hours ago, webfact said:

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam emphasised that individuals suspended by the Constitutional Court pending legal proceedings cannot be nominated for the position of prime minister. He said…

"The only option he would have in this case is to orchestrate a coup. I can readily give advice on legalities given my vast personal knowledge in this matter."

[newnative]

It's all taking far too long.

[Freed1948]

Time to stop pussy footing around. Move Forward has the backing of the Techsavvy younger generation. Go for it Pita.

[spidermike007]

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam is a total desperado, scared to death of losing power and access to the treasury, as are his army buddies and skanky fellow members of this horrid administration. They would do anything to hang onto power. Including defying the will of the people. 

 

What these goons do not seem to understand, is they would do that at their own peril. Everything has changed. 

[zzaa09]

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam is a total desperado, scared to death of losing power and access to the treasury, as are his army buddies and skanky fellow members of this horrid administration. They would do anything to hang onto power. Including defying the will of the people. 

 

What these goons do not seem to understand, is they would do that at their own peril. Everything has changed. 

The revolution will be quashed like all other attempts in the past. 

Though, the dinosaur bones are appearing to be brittle and fragile from their frame. 

Success next time will ensure the extinction of the old guard. 

Patience.

[bannork]

I think Pita and MF are doing exactly the right thing now. Acting as a government in waiting, they are touring the provinces, promising to solve local grievances and boost local economies.

Rapturous receptions in Phuket, Lampang and now Chiang Mai. 

They've lit a fuse and regardless of Pita's fate, the future belongs to this party of meritocracy, as opposed to the dinosaurs with their family dynasties and military connections.

 

[MikeandDow]

Whoever was elected by the Pro-Democracy side was always going to be "investigated" by the EC; it wouldn't have mattered the slightest if it were Pita, Thaksin's daughter or the other PT Prime Minister nominees, anyone else from MF, or anyone backed by these parties. 

This was all designed and written into the Junta constitution; the Military/Establishment side in Thai politics knows that they are unable to win a fair or fair-ish election, so they added poison pills.

The EC. Thai election laws, like virtually all Thai laws, always have some vagueness so that they can be "interpreted" (anyone ever visit Thai immigration?). The EC was appointed by the Junta and will always find something to question based on their "interpretation" of the rules. Moreover, they'll take their sweet time in doing so against an opposition candidate as every day after the election goes by, the sense of momentum of the winning, Pro-Democracy side wanes just a little. Finally, after they have done their best to blunt a sense of momentum, they'll refer the case to the NACC "out of an abundance of caution" so that the new PM will be referred to as the "under investigation (insert name)".

Next is the NACC. The NACC will conduct a "fair and complete" investigation and take their sweet time about it in order to continue the policy of blunting momentum and casting aspersions on the Pro-Democracy side. Hmm... isn't Prawit's former aide still Head of the NACC? 

After the NACC, the Constitution Court will weigh in. Remember them? The ones who decided that an army regulation superseded the Constitution so that Prayut could live rent-free on an army base?

The Senate. Since you all know about the Junta-appointed Senate, I won't waste my time.

The process is clear as day.

"Concerns" will be raised. Bull<deleted> rules and regulations will be cited. "Doubts" will be cast. "Questions" will be asked.

In August , approximately four months after the election, when the momentum from the election has worn off and the leading candidate or candidates from the opposition side have been tarnished in the name of "making sure everything is correct", then they will decide if they want the tarnished candidate or they decide that "more investigations" are needed to "ensure fairness" and muddy it up further.

This is all by design and was planned a few years ago.

Power in Thailand isn't given, it is taken. If Pita and the Pro-Democracy side want to govern, they need to start fighting back, and quickly. Leaks about the EC members and their pre-election overseas trips and perks, point out the ridiculousness of involving the Senate, discreetly organize street demos, start making public statements about how stupid the process is, etc.

Political power is an ephemeral thing as it is rarely measured, The vast majority of time, political power exists simply because people think you have it. Conversely, if people don't think you have it, you don't have it.

If Pita wants to be PM, he needs to fight like hell now while he has the afterglow of a Democratic election. If he sits back and allows himself to be belittled, judged and insulted by his foes, his power will evaporate before he even uses it. Politics 101 is define your opponent before he can define himself.

This was always going to occur; that was decided when the Junta wrote the current constitution. 

The question is simple; is the Pro-Democracy side going to fight?

[bannork]

2 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

Whoever was elected by the Pro-Democracy side was always going to be "investigated" by the EC; it wouldn't have mattered the slightest if it were Pita, Thaksin's daughter or the other PT Prime Minister nominees, anyone else from MF, or anyone backed by these parties. 

 

This was all designed and written into the Junta constitution; the Military/Establishment side in Thai politics knows that they are unable to win a fair or fair-ish election, so they added poison pills.

 

The EC. Thai election laws, like virtually all Thai laws, always have some vagueness so that they can be "interpreted" (anyone ever visit Thai immigration?). The EC was appointed by the Junta and will always find something to question based on their "interpretation" of the rules. Moreover, they'll take their sweet time in doing so against an opposition candidate as every day after the election goes by, the sense of momentum of the winning, Pro-Democracy side wanes just a little. Finally, after they have done their best to blunt a sense of momentum, they'll refer the case to the NACC "out of an abundance of caution" so that the new PM will be referred to as the "under investigation (insert name)".

 

Next is the NACC. The NACC will conduct a "fair and complete" investigation and take their sweet time about it in order to continue the policy of blunting momentum and casting aspersions on the Pro-Democracy side. Hmm... isn't Prawit's former aide still Head of the NACC? 

 

After the NACC, the Constitution Court will weigh in. Remember them? The ones who decided that an army regulation superseded the Constitution so that Prayut could live rent-free on an army base?

 

The Senate. Since you all know about the Junta-appointed Senate, I won't waste my time.

 

The process is clear as day.

 

"Concerns" will be raised. Bull<deleted> rules and regulations will be cited. "Doubts" will be cast. "Questions" will be asked.

 

In August , approximately four months after the election, when the momentum from the election has worn off and the leading candidate or candidates from the opposition side have been tarnished in the name of "making sure everything is correct", then they will decide if they want the tarnished candidate or they decide that "more investigations" are needed to "ensure fairness" and muddy it up further.

 

This is all by design and was planned a few years ago.

 

Power in Thailand isn't given, it is taken. If Pita and the Pro-Democracy side want to govern, they need to start fighting back, and quickly. Leaks about the EC members and their pre-election overseas trips and perks, point out the ridiculousness of involving the Senate, discreetly organize street demos, start making public statements about how stupid the process is, etc.

 

Political power is an ephemeral thing as it is rarely measured, The vast majority of time, political power exists simply because people think you have it. Conversely, if people don't think you have it, you don't have it.

 

If Pita wants to be PM, he needs to fight like hell now while he has the afterglow of a Democratic election. If he sits back and allows himself to be belittled, judged and insulted by his foes, his power will evaporate before he even uses it. Politics 101 is define your opponent before he can define himself.

 

This was always going to occur; that was decided when the Junta wrote the current constitution. 

 

The question is simple; is the Pro-Democracy side going to fight?

 

He and MF are fighting now. 3 days ago in Phuket, meeting local representatives, discussing solutions, followed by a rally in a stadium to rapturous applause from  locals.

The same yesterday in Lampang and today, Chiang Mai.

Large, enthusiastic crowds. 

He's laying out to the Thai people, these are the issues that affect you, we will deal with them.

All of the appearance of a government in waiting, waiting to hit the ground running .

Momentum maintained.

So when they ban Pita, by the letter of the law or the senators' innate dislike of democracy, the establishment's game to maintain power at all costs will be exposed for the sham it is.

 

 

[Toolong]

Sorry, can't submit comment that is in any way helpful or insightful re the issue at hand (Pita witchhunt)  but beg forgiveness for indulgently taking this opportunity to declare my limitless loathing for that toady legal-errand-boy of the junta, Wissanu. 

Since 2014 coup, I've subjected myself, all too frequently, to a grimly masochistic tendency to wonder who, among the junta govt, cronies & suppprters, I loathe the most. (It helped pass the time.)

Have to say it's long been a close neck & neck (& one more neck) between Prayuth, Prawit and Wissanu. (Though for those who can remember - and I ***ing can! - Suthep was for a long time  undisputed champ of the chumps to loathe the most....but Wissanu's shown an ability to gain ground - even on the two P's - and, like I said, is now a frontrunner. Gotta hand it to him. ????????????????????

[khaowong1]

14 hours ago, soalbundy said:

Pita of all people should have been squeaky clean before election day, his anti-establishment party was bound to come under intense scrutiny, to say he wasn't warned that his media shares could cause trouble shows poor management at best. It is naive to think that 'the will of the people' will sway the apparatus that still has its hand on the tiller. MFP didn't get overall majority and must go to bed with other parties who all have their own agenda then there is the Senat of course. The party has already had to backtrack on some of its populist declarations The establishment has had hundreds of years of experience in dealing with threats to its authority, it will take more than a bunch of well meaning amateurs to knock them off their horses.

Exactly right.  ????

[Mr Meeseeks]

6 hours ago, Freed1948 said:

Time to stop pussy footing around. Move Forward has the backing of the Techsavvy younger generation. Go for it Pita.

Means absolutely diddly squat in Thailand. 

[kingstonkid]

16 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

Rolly Rolex is behind the scenes for sure as he denied it yesterday ????

Nah I actually think this is the work of the man in Dubai.  In order for him to have any chance of returning daughter has to be PM so she can give hm a full pardon or house arrest for 10 years lol

[spidermike007]

18 hours ago, zzaa09 said:

The revolution will be quashed like all other attempts in the past. 

Though, the dinosaur bones are appearing to be brittle and fragile from their frame. 

Success next time will ensure the extinction of the old guard. 

Patience.

Not buying into the pessimism. The people will resist, if this is stolen from them, the army does not have the guts to wage a Burmese style oppression campaign, the families will not allow their sons to slaughter innocent Thais, and all moral authority is gone. Everything has changed. The dinosaur reign is over.

 

 

Edited June 16, 2023 by spidermike007

[UbonEagle]

I may be wrong, but it’s my understanding that if MF is excluded, that the gaggle of small parties banded together would have such small majority that MF will be able to move no confidence motion, dissolving the house and triggering re-elections….now if they wait until the appointed senate is disbanded in 2024 ? they would clearly sweep to a massive majority win based on recent trends 

Edited June 16, 2023 by UbonEagle

[nobodysfriend]

On 6/15/2023 at 4:15 AM, webfact said:

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam emphasised that individuals suspended by the Constitutional Court pending legal proceedings cannot be nominated for the position of prime minister. He said…

“Amid an ongoing legal case, they cannot be nominated because they would not be able to perform their duties should they be selected.”

Democracy or Autocracy  ... ?

It is nothing but an Autocracy disguised as a Democracy here .

Why hold elections at all ...?

[h90]

On 6/15/2023 at 5:56 AM, Enoon said:

Not at all.

 

Pita knew, absolutely, that the Old Order would be the worst sort of loser.

 

This is nothing compared to what is on the way........which has also been anticipated by the Democratic leadership.

 

You think that, after the sort of change they proposed, they did not expect that this would be the hardest of hardball games?

 

If anyone is showing naivety, and not a little contempt.......it's you.

 

 

 

If he would have anticipated it he would have sold the shares 2 years ago...and it all wouldn't be a topic.

[h90]

7 minutes ago, nobodysfriend said:

Democracy or Autocracy  ... ?

It is nothing but an Autocracy disguised as a Democracy here .

Why hold elections at all ...?

similar laws you have in many countries.....that is not unreasonable to want someone who has no legal cases at court

[h90]

36 minutes ago, UbonEagle said:

I may be wrong, but it’s my understanding that if MF is excluded, that the gaggle of small parties banded together would have such small majority that MF will be able to move no confidence motion, dissolving the house and triggering re-elections….now if they wait until the appointed senate is disbanded in 2024 ? they would clearly sweep to a massive majority win based on recent trends 

as the MF forward has 38% the others will have about 62% which is comfortable to rule, if all band together.

[h90]

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Not buying into the pessimism. The people will resist, if this is stolen from them, the army does not have the guts to wage a Burmese style oppression campaign, the families will not allow their sons to slaughter innocent Thais, and all moral authority is gone. Everything has changed. The dinosaur reign is over.

 

 

Prayuth is past....you can forget him....the Prayuth part of history is over...no matter if MF, PTP or some other prime minister. I would bet everything it won't be Prayut again.

[h90]

16 hours ago, kingstonkid said:

Nah I actually think this is the work of the man in Dubai.  In order for him to have any chance of returning daughter has to be PM so she can give hm a full pardon or house arrest for 10 years lol

I don't think they put his daughter into the dangerous position....someone else if it all fails.

Yes than come back...1 week in VIP jail, than 6 month with angle bracelet in house arrest (which means nothing if you are rich like him) and sale that all as national reconciliation.