On 2/11/2026 at 11:55 PM, bannork said:

A constitution whose drafting committee was chaired by Anand Panyarachun.

It was a great constitution, unfortunately it didn't foresee the rise of Thaksin and the power the constitution gave him.

A word from AI-

While the 1997 "People's" Constitution is often hailed as Thailand's most democratic, its primary design goal—to create stable, effective government—ultimately became its greatest vulnerability.

The following are the key weak points often cited by legal scholars and political analysts:

• Excessive Executive Power: By design, the constitution aimed to end the era of weak, short-lived coalition governments. However, it succeeded so well that it allowed Thaksin Shinawatra to consolidate unprecedented power, leading to accusations of a "parliamentary dictatorship" where the executive branch dominated both the legislature and independent agencies.

• Vulnerability of Independent Agencies: New bodies like the Election Commission (ECT) and the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) were meant to be neutral. In practice, they became targets for political interference. Critics argued that the executive branch successfully "captured" these institutions, using them to sideline political opponents rather than as neutral checks on power.

  weak points of 1997 thai constitution - Google Search

Good post with good information.

It would appear that the two biggest weaknesses of the 1997 constitution are also the two biggest enablers of subsequent military, quasi-military and nominally conservative administrations.

Creates a "parliamentary dictatorship" where the executive branch dominates both the legislature and independent agencies. ✅

The executive branch successfully "captured" these institutions (EC, NACC, SC), using them to sideline political opponents rather than for neutral checks on power. ✅

Last night, I watched "Breaking the Cycle" on Netflix, about Thanathorn and his Future Forward party's mercurial rise in popularity before it was all undermined by the "independent" manipulators of the constitution. His party came second in the 2019 election, but the murky legal interpretations of when does a loan become a contribution, drenched in legalese and double talk ended it for him and his party.

The movie ends with his successor Pita and his party Move Forward on the cusp of being denied the same rights to governing and the premiership after winning the 2023 election, with more constitutional manipulation by the "independent" authorities killing the whole endeavour.

Now, in 2026, and despite winning all Bangkok's constituencies, the People's Party face much the same fate.

On 2/12/2026 at 9:21 PM, KhunHeineken said:

Thailand is a dictatorship masquerading as a democracy.

Basically, Thailand is a sham democracy so it can get a seat at the UN.

Thailand doesn't even masquerade as a democracy , why would it ? it is not even classed as such by the UN

i don't get this whole "democracy is good and anything else is bad " ideology, Democracy just means that the electorate get a chance to vote every 4 years or so, The theory behind it is fine but putting it into practice and making it work seems to be very difficult these days

In Thailand the electorate vote for who they want to form a government , but the votes, many of which are paid for, openly and illegally, apparently are either not counted properly, or simply thrown in a skip etc and the actual outcome is decided by "others" so voting is pointless

In the UK for example, theoretically we vote for the party which ( according to their manifesto) we believe will act in our best interests or the best interests of the country, then, upon being elected their manifesto is thrown in a skip and they renege on their so called promises to do as they please

And then we have the US where the winning party actually does fulfill at least some of its pre election promises eg tighter immigration controls, and something akin to a civil war breaks out because the minority who did not get the result they wanted, refuse to accept the actions of the democratically elected government

And actually, just so you know , there is no requirement whatsoever for a country to be a democracy to join the UN. want some examples? Saudi Arabia, China, Russia, Qatar, Afghanistan , Oman, Brunei, and even vatican city

On 2/15/2026 at 8:58 AM, Bday Prang said:

Thailand doesn't even masquerade as a democracy , why would it ? it is not even classed as such by the UN

i don't get this whole "democracy is good and anything else is bad " ideology, Democracy just means that the electorate get a chance to vote every 4 years or so, The theory behind it is fine but putting it into practice and making it work seems to be very difficult these days

In Thailand the electorate vote for who they want to form a government , but the votes, many of which are paid for, openly and illegally, apparently are either not counted properly, or simply thrown in a skip etc and the actual outcome is decided by "others" so voting is pointless

In the UK for example, theoretically we vote for the party which ( according to their manifesto) we believe will act in our best interests or the best interests of the country, then, upon being elected their manifesto is thrown in a skip and they renege on their so called promises to do as they please

And then we have the US where the winning party actually does fulfill at least some of its pre election promises eg tighter immigration controls, and something akin to a civil war breaks out because the minority who did not get the result they wanted, refuse to accept the actions of the democratically elected government

And actually, just so you know , there is no requirement whatsoever for a country to be a democracy to join the UN. want some examples? Saudi Arabia, China, Russia, Qatar, Afghanistan , Oman, Brunei, and even vatican city

So, if Thailand is not a democracy, and not Communist, and not under a Dictatorship, what do YOU call Thailand?

5 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

So, if Thailand is not a democracy, and not Communist, and not under a Dictatorship, what do YOU call Thailand?

I just call it Thailand, I feel no need to call it anything else , I don't feel any need to label it or fit it into an established western political compartment. It is totally different ,I never mentioned communism or dictatorship, The best I can come up with is..." It is what it is"

I don't think the electorate are getting shafted by the political elite any more than the electorates of any other country

What do YOU call it ?,

1 hour ago, Bday Prang said:

What do YOU call it ?,

I posted.

A dictatorship, masquerading as a democracy.

Just look at how many military coups Thailand has in its history. If the vote doesn't go their way, they have a coup.

I don't judge it by western standards. I just it by facts.

1 hour ago, KhunHeineken said:

I posted.

A dictatorship, masquerading as a democracy.

Just look at how many military coups Thailand has in its history. If the vote doesn't go their way, they have a coup.

I don't judge it by western standards. I just it by facts.

Fair enough, but I don't judge it at all, I just accept it, I tolerate it , if or when it becomes intolerable, i suppose I would have to move on, although I can't really envisage that happening, nothing they have done in the last 30 years has driven me away,

I know things are not perfect here but there is absolutely nothing we can do about it, All of us have to negotiate the endless and ever changing immigration regulations, We all live in fear of bank accounts being frozen, We all put ourselves at risk every time we take to the road, and We all stand a good chance of being overcharged in many places simply because we are foreigners, having a moan about it on here is perfectly normal and a good way of letting off a bit of steam, and easing the frustration, it's certainly better than taking it out on the wife

I really don't know what you are getting upset about Thai politics for, as long as whatever political wrangling they indulge in, or any underhanded tactics they employ doesn't affect me too negatively I simply could not care , the same goes for military coups and corruption it's just a bit more entertainment , something else to watch on the news

none of it bothers me at all

You on the other hand seem to be getting very worked up over these things, you almost seem to be outraged by it all,, and appear to be taking it all rather personally , ok we are all entitled to our opinions, but I think you are letting it get to you too much,

I mean you are having a go at me just because I don't share your concerns, or your obsession with this "democracy / dictatorship" thing you've got going on

Far better to sit back and watch the drama unfold, think of it as a netflix series, and just remember that some of us just could not give a toss, no point in arguing amongst ourselves over any of this,

Judged by western standards I think Thailand is doing pretty well, its not suffering from uncontrolled immigration, there's no real unemployment , and every Thai I know is enjoying a better standard of living than they were 20 years ago I'm not saying that any particular government is responsible for that . But back in the UK most people are worse off in real terms than they were 20 years ago , illegal immigration is at unprecedented levels, and unemployment is a problem especially for the young, and without doubt , each successive government we have had since then is directly responsible for that.

15 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

Fair enough, but I don't judge it at all, I just accept it, I tolerate it ,

Where did I post don't accept it, pr tolerate it?

15 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

know things are not perfect here but there is absolutely nothing we can do about it,

Exactly, that's why I couldn't care less.

I'm in Thailand for the sun, sand, seafood, suds and snatch.

Thailand offers no reasonable pathway to citizenship, so I will never have any skin in the game past a visa, which can be revoked at any time individually, or collectively.

15 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

I really don't know what you are getting upset about Thai politics for

What make you think I am upset? I couldn't care less.

It's just the Thai's want to display to the world they are a democracy, when they actually are not. I am not fooled by their BS, but it appears you are.

15 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

You on the other hand seem to be getting very worked up over these things, you almost seem to be outraged by it all,

Can you quote something in any of my posts that made you form that opinion? You are totally incorrect.

Thailand is not the be all and end all for me. I have no emotional or financial ties to Thailand. I have posted previously Vietnam is my Plan B country, and it's Communist. 🙂

15 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

Far better to sit back and watch the drama unfold, think of it as a netflix series, and just remember that some of us just could not give a toss, no point in arguing amongst ourselves over any of this,

Who's arguing?

Due to corruption, the Thai;s will get the government they deserve.

15 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

Judged by western standards I think Thailand is doing pretty well

I though you didn't want to judge Thailand by western standards, now you do. Make up your mind.

Have you seen the state of Thailand's economy? They are NOT doing "pretty well" at all.

Then, you have their tourism industry, which makes up about 20% of Thailand's GDP in a down turn.

As far as "uncontrolled immigration" I'm here, you're here, and all we needed is a visa. Thailand has been colonized by people from western countries without even firing a bullet, many of them here being undesirables.

46 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

As far as "uncontrolled immigration" I'm here, you're here, and all we needed is a visa. Thailand has been colonized by people from western countries without even firing a bullet, many of them here being undesirables.

exactly we all have visas , hardly uncontrolled, thailand has not been colonised, except by the chinese who established themselves here long ago

50 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

I am not fooled by their BS, but it appears you are.

how have I been fooled? What are the consequences

52 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

though you didn't want to judge Thailand by western standards, now you do. Make up your mind.

Bad choice of words by myself, "I should have said "compared to the west" reprimand acknowledged

55 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

Thailand is not the be all and end all for me. I have no emotional or financial ties to Thailand. I have posted previously Vietnam is my Plan B country, and it's Communist.

why is it so many people can only think of Vietnam or the Philippines when considering relocation,?

Why even have a "Plan B" ? no planning required just jump on a plane.

what difference does it make to you whether its communist or a dictatorship?

1 hour ago, KhunHeineken said:

Have you seen the state of Thailand's economy? They are NOT doing "pretty well" at all.

Then, you have their tourism industry, which makes up about 20% of Thailand's GDP in a down turn.

doing ok from what I can see, I don't care about tourists

I cant be bothered pal lets leave it at that