Thaksin Plans Electoral Changes to Counter Move Forward's Rise

[AhFarangJa]

16 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

Inching closer to a Civil War, to tell you the truth, I think it's inevitable......but needed.

That is my fear also. I keep telling the Wife, either civil disturbance, or a coup by December. I really hope I am proven to be wrong, but all the time this criminal keeps stoking the pot from the sidelines there will never be total peace. If He cannot win, then change the system in his favour, geez, you cannot make this up. Where are the lawmakers that are supposed to protect the Populus.....Rhetorical question.......Throw him in jail, and weld the door shut.

[stoner]

25 minutes ago, tomazbodner said:

106% of votes minimum!

 

speaking of kims. his father was quite the golfer. 

 

he shot a whopping 38 under par in 1994. during that round he also hit an impressive 11 holes-in-1. definitely put in 106 % that day. 

[nobodysfriend]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The proposition stems from Thaksin’s observation that Pheu Thai’s chances against Move Forward are slim under the current system,

 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Thaksin has been actively consulting with influential figures, colloquially known as "Big House" elements, across the provinces to consolidate his party's constituency-based power.

 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Thaksin is leveraging his network to ensure Pheu Thai's dominance in future elections.

 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Thaksin’s blueprint is a calculated bid to reshape Thailand's electoral landscape, potentially sidelining his most formidable opponents and ensuring Pheu Thai's supremacy in the next election.

 

 

He is actively working undermining the bit of democracy that Thailand has left by now .

He has no respect for a democratic system , where PEOPLE chose who will be their next leader .

He wants to be #1 again , at what cost , he does not care .

This guy is an enemy of Thailands fragile democracy , all he wants is power over people and the system .

The only place for him is jail .

 

[bamnutsak]

Note that he was just charged last week for 112, and is out on bail.

 

Thaksin released on bail in lese majeste case

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/politics/40038910

 

 

 

 

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, koolkarl said:

Democracy is nothing but a word here. 

Not only here. Look at the country with the orange guy. 

[sammieuk1]

Tony Maloney full of baloney 🤔

[mokwit]

1 hour ago, koolkarl said:

Thought he was in ICU.

Fabulous Doctors at the Police General Hospital. Cured him of chronic life threatening conditions within months.

[GarryP]

16 minutes ago, bamnutsak said:

Note that he was just charged last week for 112, and is out on bail.

 

Thaksin released on bail in lese majeste case

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/politics/40038910

 

 

 

 

Probably thought of this new scheme as a get out of jail card. The royalists, oligarchs and military will forgive him if he can put a stop to MFP, the reason he was allowed back in the first place. 

[kingstonkid]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

 

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is quietly considering a significant change to the country's electoral system in an attempt to undermine the growing influence of the Move Forward Party.

 

According to sources within his Pheu Thai Party, Thaksin aims to abolish the party-list mode of electing MPs, a system that Move Forward has successfully utilised to gain substantial representation in parliament.

 

Under the current constitution, the Thai House of Representatives is composed of 400 constituency-based MPs and 100 party-list MPs.

 

Thaksin's proposal would see the entirety of the 500 parliamentary seats decided by constituency-based elections. This shift could potentially increase the number of constituencies from 400 to 500, making it more challenging for parties like Move Forward, which rely heavily on the party-list system, to maintain their influence.

 

The proposition stems from Thaksin’s observation that Pheu Thai’s chances against Move Forward are slim under the current system, as evidenced by the latter's success in the previous election. In 2023, Pheu Thai and Move Forward each secured 112 constituency-based MPs, with Move Forward outperforming Pheu Thai in the party-list category by 39 to 29 seats.

 

Sources indicate that Thaksin has been actively consulting with influential figures, colloquially known as "Big House" elements, across the provinces to consolidate his party's constituency-based power.

 

These discussions involve current and former MPs and cabinet members who exert substantial influence either through personal popularity, charitable deeds, or discreet financial support.

 

The move has drawn remarks from Sudarat Keyurapan, leader of the Thai Sang Thai Party, who revealed that Thaksin is leveraging his network to ensure Pheu Thai's dominance in future elections.

 

Since his controversial release from a brief stint in jail, Thaksin has been engaging with these crucial power brokers, signalling his continued involvement in Thai politics.

 

Thaksin’s strategy appears aimed not only at countering Move Forward but also at solidifying alliances with traditional political adversaries like Palang Pracharath and Ruam Thai Sang Chart, both of which currently support his administration.

 

In essence, Thaksin’s blueprint is a calculated bid to reshape Thailand's electoral landscape, potentially sidelining his most formidable opponents and ensuring Pheu Thai's supremacy in the next election.

 

Picture courtesy: Thai Rath

 

-- 2024-06-24

 

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I thought that part of his deal to come back was that he stay the hell out of the political limelight.  

 

I didnot hear any complaints before when it was the PTP that was using this to defeat the Democrats LOL

[AhFarangJa]

28 minutes ago, nobodysfriend said:

 

 

 

 

He is actively working undermining the bit of democracy that Thailand has left by now .

He has no respect for a democratic system , where PEOPLE chose who will be their next leader .

He wants to be #1 again , at what cost , he does not care .

This guy is an enemy of Thailands fragile democracy , all he wants is power over people and the system .

The only place for him is jail .

 

Nail on the head Sir.

[kingstonkid]

8 minutes ago, GarryP said:

Probably thought of this new scheme as a get out of jail card. The royalists, oligarchs and military will forgive him if he can put a stop to MFP, the reason he was allowed back in the first place. 

No, because his plan would give the PTP a better chance at power, which is the second-last thing they want.

[lordgrinz]

2 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

No, because his plan would give the PTP a better chance at power, which is the second-last thing they want.

 

If he doesn't watch out..... a black van, a belly full of cement, and a river bottom might be his next stop.

[seajae]

5 hours ago, gargamon said:

This looks to be as bad or worse idea than the US electoral college.

the US electoral college is the only thing stopping the US becoming like Thailand, it makes everyones vote count not just one party but only idiots/fanatics refuse to accept this fact

[Mr Meeseeks]

3 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

There are two options for the convicted criminal:

 

 

 

 

 

I hate to break it to you, but he's never going to jail, and he's never going to stop trying to run things. 

[tomazbodner]

1 hour ago, AhFarangJa said:

That is my fear also. I keep telling the Wife, either civil disturbance, or a coup by December. I really hope I am proven to be wrong, but all the time this criminal keeps stoking the pot from the sidelines there will never be total peace. If He cannot win, then change the system in his favour, geez, you cannot make this up. Where are the lawmakers that are supposed to protect the Populus.....Rhetorical question.......Throw him in jail, and weld the door shut.

He has a history of getting away with it. Remember DTAC/Telenor, and AIS/Temasek maneuver?

[Mr Meeseeks]

1 hour ago, nobodysfriend said:

 

 

 

 

He is actively working undermining the bit of democracy that Thailand has left by now .

He has no respect for a democratic system , where PEOPLE chose who will be their next leader .

He wants to be #1 again , at what cost , he does not care .

This guy is an enemy of Thailands fragile democracy , all he wants is power over people and the system .

The only place for him is jail .

 

 

Some points:

1. Thailand has no democracy, fragile or otherwise. It's a feudal system in which the peasant class pays taxes to different gangster clans that control separate regions. The electorate has no actual power. 

2. Move Forward did not get enough votes to form a government on their own and so needed a coalition. Pheu Thai stabbed them in the back and sold them down the river. 

3. None of them have any respect for democracy or the democratic process. They are all in it for themselves for self-enrichment and ego. 

4. Thaksin will never go to jail.

 

[Srikcir]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

change to the country's electoral system

I'm beginning to wonder why Thailand even has a constitution. The military NCPO did just as well with its daily orders that had baked in automatic constitutionality without ever involving any electorate. 

The Senate is 100% unelected. Just do the same for the House which seems where Thaksin is headed - a one party system. 

[gargamon]

35 minutes ago, seajae said:

the US electoral college is the only thing stopping the US becoming like Thailand, it makes everyones vote count not just one party but only idiots/fanatics refuse to accept this fact

Nonsense. Trump lost the popular vote by millions and was still elected in 2016 due to the electoral college. Last time a republican won the popular vote was? Maybe Reagan.

[mfd101]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Pheu Thai and Move Forward each secured 112 constituency-based MPs, with Move Forward outperforming Pheu Thai in the party-list category by 39 to 29 seats.

Based on those figures, the logic of Thaksin's alleged proposal isn't obvious. That is, it's not obvious that the party-list category is much of a problem for PTP.

 

If MFP had gained 10 more seats than PTP with the constituency seats and equal both with party-list, would he be proposing the opposite?

[lordgrinz]

1 hour ago, gargamon said:

Nonsense. Trump lost the popular vote by millions and was still elected in 2016 due to the electoral college. Last time a republican won the popular vote was? Maybe Reagan.

 

So it worked exactly the way it was supposed to, good. 

[Purdey]

The same trickery has always played a part in politics here. I see MF being split up and its members moving to other parties.

[Ned]

Come on everybody.....stop using democracy and Thailand in the same sentence. What are you talking about!?

[biggles45]

and stop talking about American politics in a topic about Thailand

[ericbj]

This man should have been tried long ago for ordering the extra-judicial killing (murder) of thousands of alleged "drug dealers".

[Mr Meeseeks]

6 minutes ago, ericbj said:

This man should have been tried long ago for ordering the extra-judicial killing (murder) of thousands of alleged "drug dealers".

 

He was given permission from a higher authority for that debacle.

[John Drake]

Prayuth was better. And, as it now turns out, more fair and democratic.

[John Drake]

7 hours ago, AhFarangJa said:

That is my fear also. I keep telling the Wife, either civil disturbance, or a coup by December. I really hope I am proven to be wrong, but all the time this criminal keeps stoking the pot from the sidelines there will never be total peace. If He cannot win, then change the system in his favour, geez, you cannot make this up. Where are the lawmakers that are supposed to protect the Populus.....Rhetorical question.......Throw him in jail, and weld the door shut.

 

There is not going to be a civil war in Thailand. This is white man's old age fantasy.

[NoshowJones]

10 hours ago, jippytum said:

How can this man propose election changes when he is on parole, on bail and banned from politics. 

If he can keep any soldiers from trying to edge their way into any government, that will be a good start. If he can manage that, he can stay on bail, stay on parole, and even stay banned from politics forever.

[Rimmer]

Off topic posts removed

[BangkokReady]

Quite astonishing to see someone who was once a firm populist, and whose followers tout democracy, to come to this.