OPINION: Fireball in Pheu Thai’s court

[webfact]

If the tightrope stretching before the second biggest political party had been very narrow before, it’s also fragile now. A clear picture of what lies ahead has two main features: the May 14 election results and what happened in Parliament on Wednesday.

 

Voters liked Move Forward. This is a dilemma everyone knows. Pheu Thai can abandon the biggest party at its own risk. If Move Forward remain popular in the next election, the desertion can face heavy electoral punishment. Yet voters penalising Pheu Thai next time can be the least of everyone’s concern.

 

“The match remains wet only because the majority (of Thais who voted on May 14) still has hope in Pheu Thai, which clearly stated its ideological stance during the election campaign,” said political analyst and academic Sukhum Nualsakul. “The match is still wet” refers to the situation on the streets which looked manageable over the past few days despite what happened to Pita Limjaroenrat. “The match, however, can become absolutely dry and ready to ignite if Pheu Thai made a U-turn on its election promises,” he said.

 

But on Wednesday, Parliament showed that Pheu Thai prime ministerial nominees will likely get just one shot each. The Senate, wielding its special power to join the House of Representatives in selecting the new prime minister, has sent a strong message that even a Pheu Thai candidate will be rejected just like Pita if Move Forward is in the nominated person’s coalition.

 

Simply put, Pheu Thai risks losing the premiership entirely if it wants to play a good, loyal friend.

 

There is still hope, though. A significant realignment with a previously rejected nominee can be perceived as a “new motion”. The Pita proposal was doomed on Wednesday because its opponents insisted that it was basically the “same” as the proposal put forward a week earlier. Submitting the same motion without substantial change in its context is prohibited in the same parliamentary semester.

 

Is Pheu Thai ready to risk it? That’s the main question.

 

By Tulsathit Taptim

Picture: Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of Move Forward Party, shakes hands with Puea Thai Party leader Cholnan Srikaew after holding a meeting with the eight-party coalition in Bangkok on July 17, 2023. (Photo by Lillian Suwanrumpha / AFP)

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/fireball-in-pheu-thais-court/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2023-07-21

 

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[hotchilli]

Boring now.

[ThailandRyan]

The powder keg however is still dry. Many folks will not forget the disloyalty if Pheu Thai jumps into he'd with Prawit and Anutin.  The country is taking further steps backwards in my view, and the old Guard do not see it.  Shamefull 

[kingstonkid]

8 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

The powder keg however is still dry. Many folks will not forget the disloyalty if Pheu Thai jumps into he'd with Prawit and Anutin.  The country is taking further steps backwards in my view, and the old Guard do not see it.  Shamefull 

PT joining with the military will hurt the pt. It worse it will make a liar out of the man in Dubai.

 

You will also see a temp agreement between MFp and demfor no confidence 

[Purdey]

The next election, lets see if MF can get 370 seats.

[Summerinsiam]

They won't need that many because the Senate expires next May.

[Denim]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Simply put, Pheu Thai risks losing the premiership entirely if it wants to play a good, loyal friend.

Better to lose than get into bed with somebody with the clap.

 

If the MF PT coalition remains strong , then even if the senators enable a bunch of losers to form a minority government it will be hamstrung trying to run the country effectively. Hopefully PT will look to its long term future rather than any short time gain.

[bradiston]

I've never ever seen an election held with such obvious disinformation and hate campaigns as this one. The attacks on Pita and his party by some rogue lawyers, serial petitioners et al are mind boggling. He's out to overthrow democracy (as junta-appointed Senator and businessman Seree Suwanpanont remarked, “It’s clear that this operation is aiming to overthrow [the monarchy]. How can we, the senators, support you to do this?”); then "Move Forward’s persistence on Article 112 has been matched by equal conservative resistance, with dual challenges from Thailand’s Constitutional Court, arguably a defender of conservative interests, on grounds of lèse-majesté and a petition filed by conservative activist Theerayut Suwankesorn." And then there's serial petitioner, aka vexatious litigant, Ruangkrai Leekitwattana gleefully waving his sheaf of petitions and share certificates, and threatening anyone backing Pita with a suit of malfeasance.

 

This is just a dirty war they are waging. I really hope it comes back to bite them. Hopefully one day, Pita will be able to sue THEM for defamation and massive damages. They've kept him out of office, and his party out of government . What's that worth?

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40029504

 

https://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/pita-touches-the-third-rail-of-thai-politics/

[ThailandRyan]

49 minutes ago, bradiston said:

I've never ever seen an election held with such obvious disinformation and hate campaigns as this one. The attacks on Pita and his party by some rogue lawyers, serial petitioners et al are mind boggling. He's out to overthrow democracy (as junta-appointed Senator and businessman Seree Suwanpanont remarked, “It’s clear that this operation is aiming to overthrow [the monarchy]. How can we, the senators, support you to do this?”); then "Move Forward’s persistence on Article 112 has been matched by equal conservative resistance, with dual challenges from Thailand’s Constitutional Court, arguably a defender of conservative interests, on grounds of lèse-majesté and a petition filed by conservative activist Theerayut Suwankesorn." And then there's serial petitioner, aka vexatious litigant, Ruangkrai Leekitwattana gleefully waving his sheaf of petitions and share certificates, and threatening anyone backing Pita with a suit of malfeasance.

 

This is just a dirty war they are waging. I really hope it comes back to bite them. Hopefully one day, Pita will be able to sue THEM for defamation and massive damages. They've kept him out of office, and his party out of government . What's that worth?

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40029504

 

https://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/pita-touches-the-third-rail-of-thai-politics/

The main serial petitioner was from Prawits party, and former Prayut go to guy.  It is saddening to see the politics being played in a country that so badly wants to be seen on the same playing field as the bigger countries.  Looking at what's transpired and how it has affected the economy and the country in general shows how far back it has been set.  Tourism is the only saving grace it appears and they keep touting how great the numbers are and what is expected from tourism.  A country can not run on tourism alone and Thailand should be building an infrastructure which boosts its economic profile.  How the Baht has strengthened is another issue.  The markets here do not show a strengthening baht, but with the political turmoil and the economic issues it should be moving in the opposite direction as the USD and the US economy are actually improving.  Gold prices tell the tale and they have been bouncing around for the past few weeks as well.

 

Wishing this country the best, but see dark days ahead for the general public.

[heybruce]

"The Senate, wielding its special power to join the House of Representatives in selecting the new prime minister, has sent a strong message that even a Pheu Thai candidate will be rejected just like Pita if Move Forward is in the nominated person’s coalition."

 

The unelected Senate is making it clear that they don't care who the voters want, they won't allow democracy in Thailand.  Words fail me.