A Primer On Thai Political Laws

[californiabeachboy]

I assume many readers here are like me - have some experience with visiting Thailand, but are struggling to understand what is going on. I know about the closing of the airport, etc. but possibly someone could explain Thai elections. For example:

1. Here in the US we have set dates for elections. I believe that some countries (Australia, for example) elections can be called within a window period by the sitting government. How does it work in Thailand?

2. Is the Red Shirt's call for an election within the existing law, or outside of it.

3. Who won the last election, and how long was it supposed to be before the next one.

4. Very subjective I know, but who would be favored to win if there is a new election. I assume the existing government thinks it won't win, otherwise it would just call an election.

5. If the Red Shirts win the election, does that mean that Thaksin could come back and lead the country?

Thanks for any help in understanding this situation. My guess is that most Thais just want to carry on with their lives.

[Changian]

They have elections to fill the time between military coups as it gives the masses something to talk about other than soap operas. When the army gets bored with running the country they let someone else have a go. Elections are called and a party backed by big business wins and are allowed to milk the country dry for a few years.

Then other business people get jealous and decide it should be their turn to own the cash cow. So the upper echelons of Thai society who are not political in any way ( officially ) will allow them to have a go at running the country for a few years.

Problems arise when rival groups of business people want to run the country at the same time and forget that all they really have to do is wait their turn as the other group will surely screw it up within a couple of years of being 'elected' anyway.

[chadintheusa]

1. Under the parliamentary system elections can be held at any time the PM chooses. In this system the governing party may hold less than 50% of the seats and unless they have a stable coalition of parties new elections may be called when the governing party no longer has enough support.

2. It is not up to the Reds to call an election, they are working outside the law using protests, intimidation, and violence to force the PMs hand.

3. The PTP won the most seats in the previous election, but due to disqualifications due to election fraud and other problems the opposing parties headed by the democrats formed a coalition with enough support to take control of the government, which is entirely legal in the parliamentary system. The next election must be held by the end of 2011, but everyone expects it will be much sooner, maybe 3 to 6 months at this point.

4. The PTP, the reds party, has enough influence in the heavily populated north to probably win the next election. Although they may not form a majority government. If they don't buy votes this time they might actually hold on to power, if they use their usual tricks they'll be disbanded again.

5. Thaksin is still banned from politics for several more years. To lead the government he would have to be elected as an MP. It would take some real political dealing to get his ban lifted. It would be even more divisive for the country than trying to put George Bush in for a third term.

[321niti123]

1 The PM can dissolve the parliament and call for new elections anytime he wants

2 The red shirts protest calling for new elections was lawful in the beginning until they started blocking intersections and using violence to pressure the government, it is now unlawful.

3 The last election was kinda messy, People's Power Party got a majority of the vote, Samak Sundaravech became prime minister, he was found guilty for being an employee during the time that he was also a PM so he got removed. The parliament was supposed to vote for a new PM (samak still eligible), but the majority of the parliament voted for Somchai Wongsawat to become PM. During Somchai's time the yellow shirt of PAD (people's alliance for democracy) took control of the airport to pressure the government, Somchai's administration was founded guilty on the count of election fraud and his government was dissolved. The parties other that PPP that formed a coalition to gain a majority in the government switch sides and sided with the Democrats which allowed ABhisit Vechachiva to become PM (this is controversial because no elections was held after PPP was dissolved although a majority of PPP's became the Phua Thai Party who could not gain enough seats in the parliament to beat the Democrat coalition).

The next election isnt supposed to be until 1 years and nine months from now, after discussion between reds and government the government has agreed to hold elections in nine months, probably would be sooner by the looks of it

4 Phua Thai (supported by reds)are favored to gain a majority but a coalition might be formed and another party might control the government.

5 If the reds win, that doesn't mean that Thaksin would become PM, Thaksin still faces many years of imprisonment, more likely one of Thaksins friends or puppets

[thaihome]

The People's Power Party did not win a majority of the vote in the 2007 election. They won 36.63% of the constituency vote and 39.60% of the proportional; ending up with 47% of the MP seats

TH

[pete_r]

The People's Power Party did not win a majority of the vote in the 2007 election. They won 36.63% of the constituency vote and 39.60% of the proportional; ending up with 47% of the MP seats

TH

Although not an absolute majority, that was a comfortable relative majority.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_general_election,_2007

[thaihome]

The People's Power Party did not win a majority of the vote in the 2007 election. They won 36.63% of the constituency vote and 39.60% of the proportional; ending up with 47% of the MP seats

TH

Although not an absolute majority, that was a comfortable relative majority.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_general_election,_2007

And in the context of forming a government and electing a Prime Minister, the term “relative majority” means what?

TH