1 minute ago, Will B Good said:

 

Ah but, yes but, ....the excuse was he committed his crimes abroad.......he was also suspected of rape and murder...I think.

correct 

7 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

 

 

She is quite easy on the eye....🤭

And I just had a lump of US cash land in my Thai baht account this morning, boy I've never been good at timing (just ask the ladies)!

36 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

The what you're saying is certainly not out of the realm of possibility, I'd be curious to know just which policies you're referring to that the powers that be were not pleased with. Doesn't seem to me like he's done anything in the way of progress or reform. 

 

I did mention a couple in that post that I think have grated the financial world here (like the digital wallet) who consider it to be a disaster... and we all know who owns 30%+ of the SCB etc.

Also, I think the increase property ownership proposals for foreigners has also got the conservative nationalists into a hot hissy-fit, with the hotel industry also panicking about the Chinese etc. swallowing up whole floors of apartment blocks and then renting it out to only Chinese tourists etc. These are industries with powerful people running them.

I do think the tax law has ruffled many local and powerful rich Thais, and that seems to have been overlooked, as most of the focus/discussion has been regarding foreigners paying tax on their pensions and income from elsewhere.... I don't think it should be underestimated how much umbridge these types can take at such changes if they stand to lose out. 

Could also be many in the business community worried about the dumping of cheap Chinese goods everywhere... which they have only just a few days ago thought about addressing, coincidence much (just speculating though), and again powerful protectionist attitudes prevail here too.

Things are often not as they seem here and countries like Thailand (as you eloquently put it before) are "gentle juntas", but juntas none the less... can be a lot of smoke and mirrors going on above a bed of organized deceit, and corruption always finds a way. I think a very few select individuals are being puppet masters and they don't like what they see, hence the dealing with of so many loose ends right now.

However, having said all that, it's subjective, and I might be being too cynical as have lived here a long time.

Cheers.

Edited August 14, 20241 yr by Sir Dude
Typos

2 minutes ago, Enzian said:

And I just had a lump of US cash land in my Thai baht account this morning, boy I've never been good at timing (just ask the ladies)!

 

 

5555.

 

If you follow me.....but do the opposite...... you could make a fortune.....me: buy at the top.....panic....sell at the bottom.

Thai politics in Cabinet fever as PM race heats up, 7 candidates

 

 

Following the removal of former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, several media outlets are closely watching the selection of the next PM and the formation of the new Cabinet with seven potential candidates from five coalition government parties.

 

According to Section 159 of the Constitution, the appointment of the PM of Thailand involves five conditions:

 

1. The House of Representatives must appoint the PM by selecting a candidate who meets the qualifications outlined in Section 160.
2. The candidate for PM must be nominated by a political party from the list specified in Section 88.
3. The nominating political party must hold at least five per cent of the total seats in the House of Representatives.
4. The nomination must be endorsed by at least one-tenth of the total members of the House of Representatives.
5. The House of Representatives must approve the PM’s appointment through open voting, with more than half of the total members in favour.

 

The list of prime ministerial candidates from political parties with members elected to the House of Representatives, representing at least 5% of the total membership (or 25 members), includes seven names from five coalition government parties:

 

1. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, leader of the Pheu Thai Party.
2. Chaikasem Nitisiri, former advisor to the ex-PM Srettha.
3. Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the Bhumjaithai Party.
4. Prawit Wongsuwon, leader of the Palang Pracharath Party.
5. Prayut Chan-o-cha, former PM and leader of the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party.
6. Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, former Deputy PM, Minister of Energy, and current leader of Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party.
7. Jurin Laksanawisit, former leader of the Democrat Party.

 

 

Paetongtarn emerged as a strong candidate for PM due to her significant role in the Pheu Thai Party after being selected as party leader in October of the previous year, ahead of the recent General Election. Many expect her to follow in the footsteps of her father, former PM Thaksin Shinawatra.

 

Another potential candidate from the Pheu Thai Party is 75 year old Chaikasem, who was previously proposed as a PM candidate twice, in 2019 and 2023. Chaikasem began his political career relatively late, having spent most of his life in the legal field as the former Attorney General of Thailand.

 

Under Paetongtarn’s leadership in the Pheu Thai Party, Chaikasem became a candidate for PM alongside Paetongtarn and Srettha. After Srettha secured the PM position, Chaikasem became an advisor to the PM. He was listed as a party-list Member of Parliament but later resigned on 9 October.

 

As the coalition government party with the second most MP seats, the leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, Anutin, is another strong candidate. The 57 year old politician is known for his business role in construction and engineering companies and his significant political role in the Covid-19 response and the legalisation of cannabis for medical use.

 

The leading candidate from the Palang Pracharath Party is its leader, Prawit Wongsuwan, who briefly served as PM in 2022. The 79 year old retired Thai general served as Deputy PM between 2014 and 2023 under both military and civilian governments and was a key figure in the 2014 coup.

 

The 29th PM of Thailand, who was in position after the 2014 coup, Prayut Chan-o-cha, also appears on the list of potential candidates. Prayut previously led the National Council for Peace and Order before winning a general election in 2019.

 

Another candidate from the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party is the party leader, former Deputy PM and Energy Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga. Pirapan began his professional career in the legal field as an assistant judge and later began his political career in 1996 as an MP representing the Huay Kwang district of Bangkok.

 

The former leader of the Democrat Party, Jurin Laksanawisit, is the latest candidate on the list. The 68 year old leading member of the Democrat Party began his career as an MP in 1996. Jurin served as Minister of Public Health between 2008 and 2011, then became Deputy PM and Minister of Commerce under the leadership of former PM Prayut.

 

As of now, the schedule for the selection of the 31st Prime Minister of Thailand has not yet been finalised. The Secretary-General of the House of Representatives, Aphat Sukhanan, revealed in an interview with Matichon that the President of the National Assembly of Thailand would later call the leaders of the government and opposition parties to a meeting before finalising the schedule.

 

By Petch Petpailin

Picture courtesy of CNN

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-08-14

 

-  Cigna offers a variety of health insurance plans designed to meet the minimum requirement for medical treatment coverage, with benefits reaching up to THB 3 million. These plans are tailored to provide comprehensive healthcare solutions for expatriates, ensuring peace of mind and access to quality medical services. To explore the full range of Cigna's expat health insurance options and find a plan that suits your needs, click here for more information.

 

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2 hours ago, proton said:

Has the watchman got the time to do the job?

He will need alarm settings that shock him awake...Mr sleepy he is

Anyone fancy meeting up for breakfast, morning coffee, lunch, afternoon beer, dinner and nighttime beer every day for the next few days?  I reckon around Victory Monument in Bangers should be the best place...  Ought to be quiet and peaceful...  Just like 2006 and 2014...

 

1 hour ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

Amazing Thailand. So they disbanded MFP, remove the PM, probably elections again without MFP - then guess who is going back into power? 🤦‍♀️

 

No doubt this was planned, and sadly they'll get away with it.

Doubt there is an election anytime soon, Pheu Thai knows they would get their ass thoroughly beaten by People’s Party.  Now, in a year or 3, after the Thaksin machine is really up and running, greasing the wheels as it were - well, that is a different story.

16 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

 

She is quite easy on the eye....🤭

I wonder how much for ST or LT.😃

6 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

The list of prime ministerial candidates from political parties with members elected to the House of Representatives, representing at least 5% of the total membership (or 25 members), includes seven names from five coalition government parties:

 

1. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, leader of the Pheu Thai Party.
2. Chaikasem Nitisiri, former advisor to the ex-PM Srettha.
3. Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the Bhumjaithai Party.
4. Prawit Wongsuwon, leader of the Palang Pracharath Party.
5. Prayut Chan-o-cha, former PM and leader of the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party.
6. Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, former Deputy PM, Minister of Energy, and current leader of Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party.
7. Jurin Laksanawisit, former leader of the Democrat Party.

Am I correct in thinking that Pita would have been on that list, if the MFP had not been disbanded and Pita banned for 10 years by the Constitutional Court?

 

Seems planned.

10 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Paetongtarn emerged as a strong candidate for PM

 

 

Nailed on.....you heard it here first

2 minutes ago, MarcelV said:

I wonder how much for ST or LT.😃

?

 

And now? Coup?

2 minutes ago, george said:

And now? Coup?

 

 

 

Politics abhors a power vacuum......so someone sat in their General's free, paid for by the tax payer mansion, must be pondering....is it their turn?

2 hours ago, John Drake said:

 

Maybe if you would have been here longer than since late July you would know. Look it up yourself. Everybody who has been with the topic knows what I'm talking about, you fool.

Seems to be, you don't even know where you are talking about as you can't remember as you said.

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

Nah, the coalition will pick a new PM... no election required.

Try but PM has to approved by the MPs and Peoples Party have the largest number so it will be interesting 

The baht is rising sharply (against USD, AUD & £). Which seems counter-intuitive to me ...

Edited August 14, 20241 yr by mfd101

1 minute ago, mfd101 said:

The baht is rising sharply (against USD, AUD & £). Which seems counter-intuitive to me ...

 

I think that often happens here. 

3 hours ago, bob smith said:

it's been a while since i've seen the old tanks.

 

bob.

 

I saw 11 of 'em on transporters in Khon Kaen about a week ago on the ring road.

2 minutes ago, MartinL said:

 

I saw 11 of 'em on transporters in Khon Kaen about a week ago on the ring road.

 

 

 Heading.....?????

1 hour ago, george said:

Anutin may be a strong contestor. What a game!

It's going to be Anutin..

 

You saw it here first 😊

 

Weed ain't going anywhere..

4 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

The baht is rising sharply (against USD, AUD & £). Which seems counter-intuitive to me ...

At 3.00pm today GBP was at 44.73 on WISE. I looked just now and it's at 44.81.

56 minutes ago, shackleton said:

Does it make any difference to expats residing here who is in power 

Answers on the back of a postage stamp 🤔

It probably does. Whether it's good or bad is another matter. 

An urgent meeting among leaders of coalition partners has been called for at Thaksin Shinawatra mansion, the Manson of the Shining Moon, on Wednesday evening after PM Srettha was removed from power by the Charter Court

 

https://x.com/KhaosodEnglish/status/1823693361833975959

Edited August 14, 20241 yr by anchadian

2 minutes ago, anchadian said:

An urgent meeting among leaders of coalition partners has been called for at Thaksin Shinawatra mansion, the Manson of the Shining Moon, on Wednesday evening after PM Srettha was removed from power by the Charter Court

 

https://x.com/KhaosodEnglish/status/1823693361833975959

 

 

 

Could be pure coincidence.

 

 

1 hour ago, MikeandDow said:

I am a foreigner and i don't agree with you so dont speak for ALL foreigner

so, did you read the interview or you going by your gut and his pretty face?

39 minutes ago, chickenslegs said:

Am I correct in thinking that Pita would have been on that list, if the MFP had not been disbanded and Pita banned for 10 years by the Constitutional Court?

 

Seems planned.

 

The MFP weren't part of the ruling coalition, so wouldn't have had a say in who was chosen.  They would have taken part in the subsequent vote though, and no doubt will under their new name, but still have fewer seats than the combined coalition parties.

 

I wonder what would have happened though if all their MPs had moved to one of the coalition parties when MFP was disbanded, making it the largest single party in the coalition, and forced their pick for PM on it?  They could have all jumped ship to the new PP at the next elections.  That would have stirred the pot.

25 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

 

 Heading.....?????

Anticlockwise heading sort-of northeast, at the junction highlighted towards the right-hand side of the picture attached. They seemed to be coming from northbound Highway 2. Wrong direction?

 

 

 

Edited August 14, 20241 yr by MartinL

Just now, MartinL said:

Anticlockwise heading sort-of northeast, at the junction highlighted towards the right-hand side of the picture attached. They seemed to be coming from northbound Highway 2. 

 

 

 

 

 

DISAPPOINTED......hoping for south west....never mind...555