Paetongtarn Triumphs! Censure Vote No Match for Pheu Thai Power

[webfact]

Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, center, reacts after a no-confidence vote against her was defeated in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

 

Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of political heavyweight Thaksin Shinawatra, has firmly held her ground today.

 

Surviving the awaited censure motion, she collected a robust 319 votes from loyal Pheu Thai-backed MPs. Meanwhile, just 162 MPs from the opposing People’s party voted against her, outnumbered and outmanoeuvred.

 

The heat in parliament was undeniable, with Paetongtarn facing a barrage of accusations. Critics questioned her leadership credentials and accused her of failing to fulfil her promises. Adding fuel to the fire were claims linking her to her father’s controversial stay at the Police Hospital, under a cloak as a "critically ill" patient to dodge jail time.

 

 

 

Despite the firestorm, Paetongtarn emerged unscathed with several MPs choosing not to vote at all. Seven lawmakers remained on the sidelines during the decision moment, neither supporting nor opposing the motion. This underlines her firm grip on the coalition, ensuring her leadership remains unchallenged, at least, for now.

 

The backdrop of this political drama is a tale as old as power itself, where familial ties and old alliances play a significant role. The survival of this censure motion highlights the Pheu Thai Party's dominance in the Thai political landscape.

 

The country's political dynamics remain fascinating, with stories like these continuing to unfold, gripping audiences both in the halls of power and everyday citizens.

 

As the dust settles, speculation buzzes on what comes next for Paetongtarn and Thailand's future. The stakes remain high, with the Prime Minister steering through turbulent waters while critics linger, ready to challenge at the next round. For now, Paetongtarn has silenced the critics, but the political chess game continues.

 

Based on a story by Thai Newsroom

 

-- 2025-03-26

 

 

[ikke1959]

Surprise surprise.... same as with Prayuth.... Money and army and elite  speaks and all are obliged to follow

[thesetat]

well, this step to oust her failed miserably. i do not understand how the people expected the PTP party members to vote against her staying in power. They are all controlled by Thaksin. I guess this is why she acted so nonchalantly the previous days without a care in the world.. 

Next step, riots and protests and rallies?

[GarryP]

That was not a triumph. Those in Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai were never going to vote against her anyway. It was never about getting her out. It was to air a lot of nasty stuff in public and make the government look bad, as it so deserves.   

[JoePai]

This illustrates perfectly that Thailand is still a 3rd world (undemocratic) country akin to the other S.E.A countries around it

[Lucky Bones]

Just how low can this country go?🙃🙃

[lordgrinz]

3 minutes ago, Lucky Bones said:

Just how low can this country go?🙃🙃

 

I just wish my wife could see the futility in staying here, I'd like to get back to civilized society. 

[proton]

Maybe the voters will triumph one day and get what they voted for, which was not her.

[lordgrinz]

2 minutes ago, proton said:

Maybe the voters will triumph one day and get what they voted for, which was not her.

 

We'll both be dead and buried long before that happens, either accept the current affairs, or move on.

[madone]

23 minutes ago, thesetat said:

this step to oust her failed miserably.

it was never intended to oust her.

it was merely a stepping stone to entrench her legitimacy -- a show for the masses

[thesetat]

Related to this topic. 

PM Paetongtarn accused of 218 million baht tax evasionhttps://thethaiger.com/news/national/pm-paetongtarn-accused-of-218-million-baht-tax-evasion?utm_source=Thaiger+Daily+EN&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2025-03-26

was also discussed in the voting of no confidence. 

I add this for the simple reason of showing the PMs intelligent replies during this meeting. 

In his opening speech to Parliament, Prawit accused Paetongtarn of failing to improve Thailand’s economy, which, he claimed, had led to increased domestic debt and a higher cost of living. He also voiced his opposition to the Pheu Thai Party’s proposal to establish an entertainment complex and casino.

After about ten minutes of Prawit’s speech, the Thai premier stood up and gave a brief response.

 

“I would like to say that what the senior member just said is not true. Thank you.”

 

And that was all that was said. So perhaps someone can explain to me how she is still the PM? 

[billd766]

58 minutes ago, proton said:

Maybe the voters will triumph one day and get what they voted for, which was not her.

But not enough voters put their mark to vote that party into power.

 

Unless ANY political party either on its own or with other parties can form a government or a coalition then they cannot run the country.

 

What is so difficult to understand about that?

 

You may not like that but it is a simple fact of life as is the fact that unless you have Thai nationality you have no voice or vote in any Thai election, which is how it should be.

 

You can howl at the moon, moan all you like but Thailand is unlikely to change.

 

So you have the choice of accepting or not accepting the rules as they are, or trying to change the rules, which won't be changed in your favour anyway.

[Dan O]

1 hour ago, proton said:

Maybe the voters will triumph one day and get what they voted for, which was not her.

Her time is limited to length of her fathers life. When he dies so do their dreams of power as no one else in their family can hold their control together. Their family will be eaten alive 

[kingstonkid]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

he survival of this censure motion highlights the Pheu Thai Party's dominance in the Thai political landscape.

 

Give me a break she has very little power and the PTP is only in power because it was the least disruptive of the 2 choices.  

 

Big money had no hope of controlling the PP so they agreed to assist the PTP.  Anutin knows he can not win an election on his own.  He also knws that the military has lost all power once the next election is held.  

 

They no longer will have the Senate to bail them out.

 

This has little to nothing to do with PTP power compared to all the money and power that these dinosaurs will lose  once the next election  is held,

 

The other thing to consider is what PPRP said this is just the opening volley in the fight it opens the gates to look at the legal issues that can be placed in the EC and NACC.

 

They now have Paetong publicly making statements about her dad and other issues.  You can be rest assured that they will be looked at when it comes to court cases.

[redwood1]

Thumbs up baby.....Full sail ahead for soft power in your face corruption....lol

[dinsdale]

No surprise. The illegitimate coalition government has the numbers.

[lordgrinz]

A win for corruption, let the avarice continue unabated, here here! I'm only surprised that they are all thumbs up, and didn't actually raise their middle fingers at Thai society, as they can do no wrong. 

[Gottfrid]

1 minute ago, lordgrinz said:

A win for corruption, let the avarice continue unabated, here here! 

I agree! The question though, is what kind of choice in Thailand will not be a win for corruption?

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Surviving the awaited censure motion, she collected a robust 319 votes from loyal Pheu Thai-backed MPs

So the whole thing is like many others... a farce

[thongplay]

3 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

 

I just wish my wife could see the futility in staying here, I'd like to get back to civilized society. 

Where would that be?

[Patong2021]

8 minutes ago, thongplay said:

Where would that be?

Somewhere beyond the fire haze cloud ?

[thongplay]

4 hours ago, thesetat said:

Related to this topic. 

PM Paetongtarn accused of 218 million baht tax evasionhttps://thethaiger.com/news/national/pm-paetongtarn-accused-of-218-million-baht-tax-evasion?utm_source=Thaiger+Daily+EN&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2025-03-26

 

was also discussed in the voting of no confidence. 

I add this for the simple reason of showing the PMs intelligent replies during this meeting. 

In his opening speech to Parliament, Prawit accused Paetongtarn of failing to improve Thailand’s economy, which, he claimed, had led to increased domestic debt and a higher cost of living. He also voiced his opposition to the Pheu Thai Party’s proposal to establish an entertainment complex and casino.

After about ten minutes of Prawit’s speech, the Thai premier stood up and gave a brief response.

 

“I would like to say that what the senior member just said is not true. Thank you.”

 

And that was all that was said. So perhaps someone can explain to me how she is still the PM? 

 

Ohh! Thaksins puppets voted in her favor. 

 

 

“I would like to say that what the senior member just said is not true. Thank you.”

 

That's parroting Kier Starmer in UK Parliament a few weeks ago and he was hammered for it.

[Purdey]

How can people be disgusted that a PM can survive a no confidence vote unless she had done something really evil? No point in blaming her father. Just win the election with an overwhelming majority next time People's Party.

[lordgrinz]

1 hour ago, thongplay said:

Where would that be?

 

In one of the most beautiful parts of New England in the USA, far from any major city, near a picturesque college town. Where the air is clean, the water is clean, the land is clean, plenty of beautiful countryside to enjoy, it's like heaven compared to this cesspool. 

[carlyai]

5 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

 

I just wish my wife could see the futility in staying here, I'd like to get back to civilized society. 

Going back to Australia then?

[KireB]

57 minutes ago, Purdey said:

How can people be disgusted that a PM can survive a no confidence vote unless she had done something really evil? No point in blaming her father. Just win the election with an overwhelming majority next time People's Party.

Maybe you forgot that she didn't win the election. She got the job because she sold her soul to the devil, who brokered a pact between the coup generals and her father. 

[Hunz Kittisak]

On 3/26/2025 at 6:32 PM, KireB said:

Maybe you forgot that she didn't win the election. She got the job because she sold her soul to the devil, who brokered a pact between the coup generals and her father. 

Pray tell if she didn’t win the elections then who did? The PP? 
if they had won then why can’t they form the government? Pls Google what is the Westminster model of parliamentary elections 

[KireB]

18 minutes ago, Hunz Kittisak said:

Pray tell if she didn’t win the elections then who did? The PP? 
if they had won then why can’t they form the government? Pls Google what is the Westminster model of parliamentary elections 

I never realised Westminster was in Thailand.  Besides that, PP would be part of a new coalition with PT, only to be blown to pieces by Prayuth's corrupt and unelected Senator bunch. That you don't know that.