Yongyuth Returns As Pheu Thai Party Leader Amid Turmoil

[webfact]

Yongyuth returns as party leader amid turmoil

By The Nation

No opposition from Thaksin as Yongyuth is re-elected Pheu Thai leader

Yongyuth Wichaidit was yesterday re-elected leader of the opposition Pheu Thai Party, with overwhelming support from party MPs just days after his resignation.

The party's general meeting held at its headquarters voted 267 to 6, with four abstentions, in support of Yongyuth as its new leader. The decision came after a heated debate between a small group of northeastern MPs and the rest of the party, particularly those from the North and Central region.

The Isaan MPs led by Paijit Sriworakhan from Nakhon Phanom called for a complete change of the executive board in order to strengthen the party's structure in preparation for the next general election.

"We will have to go at full steam with structural changes or we will not be able to fight against our opponents," Paijit said.

Other northeastern MPs also expressed their opposition to Yongyuth's comeback as the party leader. However, their colleagues from the North and Central region argued that the party needed to elect a leader yesterday or it would be "headless". They added that although the party leader would remain unchanged, deputy leaders and other members of the executive board would be new ones.

They also said that fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who is Pheu Thai's patriarch, did not oppose Yongyuth returning as the party leader.

Last Thursday, Yongyuth announced his resignation as the party leader, saying it was intended to pave the way for a structural adjustment in preparation for the next general election.

Earlier yesterday, northeastern MPs convened a meeting and most of them agreed that yesterday's general meeting of the party should be postponed for another week or two to allow more time for selecting candidates to be the new party leader. They agreed that the general meeting had been called too early and in too short a time after Yongyuth's resignation.

Pheu Thai's general meeting yesterday also elected former deputy interior minister Supol Fong-ngarm as the party's secretary general. Supol was earlier reportedly approached by the coalition Bhum Jai Thai Party and the party seat was described by a Pheu Thai source as an attempt to keep him with the party. Prompong Nopparit managed to retain his current post of the party spokesman.

As many as 14 deputy leaders were elected, including Plodprasop Suraswadi, Chat Kuladilok, Surapong Tovichakchaikul, Prayuth Siripanit, Vicharn Meenchainant, Witthaya Buranasiri, and Somsak Kiatsuranond. They are MPs from all regions as well as party-list MPs.

A party source said it was the idea of Thaksin and key Pheu Thai figures to have deputy leaders who represent different groups of party MPs. However, the current structure of the executive board would be changed and there would be a new party leader ahead of the next general election.

Payap Shinawatra, Thaksin's younger brother and chief coordinator of the party's northeastern MPs, said yesterday before the general meeting that he expected the party leader to be Yongyuth, whom he described as "the most suitable for the job".

Meanwhile, a red-shirt leader in Phayao, Siriwat Jupamadtha said yesterday that in order to match the government's "foxiness and mastery of political games", only veteran politician Chalerm Yoobamrung deserved to be Pheu Thai's party leader. "If the seat goes to someone else, I think Pheu Thai is handing the government an easy prey," he said.

Former premier and Pheu Thai chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, in his lecture at yesterday's general meeting, told party colleagues to "try every democratic means" to wrestle back political power and form a one-party government. "If we can't form a one-party government, don't expect us to survive," he said.

He suggested that the party work harder in order to win more support from poorer people, such as farmers, many of whom are being wooed by government handout policies.

-- The Nation 2010-09-15

[siampolee]

Indeed the antics are worthy of. ''Messrs Barnum and Bailey'' with their three ring circus, blatantly obvious to see the hand of Thaksin thrust up someone's back and manipulating the dummy.

Indeed the master puppeteer who has (sic) resigned from politics is indeed the master puppeteer.

Demo(n)cracy rules !!!

Machiavelli indeed has been usurped as the master manipulator.

Edited September 14, 2010 by siampolee

[Buchholz]

Payap Shinawatra, Thaksin's younger brother and chief coordinator of the party's northeastern MPs

Funny how hollow the claims are that Thaksin has nothing to do with PTP/UDD when the Shinawatra Grand Scheme of regional heads of PTP (Payap for the Northeast, Yingluk for Central, Yaowares for South, and Yaowapa for the North) is still fully in effect well over a year later.

[Thailand]

The old guard back in the saddle.

A great opportunity missed to try to find a charismatic younger representative who could possibly compete with Abhisit for the millions of voters who will be swayed by looks etc as opposed to ability and political leanings.

[Buchholz]

Meanwhile, a red-shirt leader in Phayao, Siriwat Jupamadtha said yesterday that in order to match the government's "foxiness and mastery of political games", only veteran politician Chalerm Yoobamrung deserved to be Pheu Thai's party leader.

What a terrific "scraping the bottom of the barrel" statement.

[Ricardo]

While Bangkok burns (well, just a couple of months ago), the PTP remains in disarray, thank the gods that this party isn't currently in-government, because they're simply not ready for any such responsibility, it seems.

[scorecard]

Meanwhile, a red-shirt leader in Phayao, Siriwat Jupamadtha said yesterday that in order to match the government's "foxiness and mastery of political games", only veteran politician Chalerm Yoobamrung deserved to be Pheu Thai's party leader.

What a terrific "scraping the bottom of the barrel" statement.

Their members feel that chalerm is the right man for Thailand.

Heaven help us!

[SomTumTiger]

And people keep saying these bozos are going to "win" the next election. lol

[Buchholz]

As many as 14 deputy leaders were elected

I see they are copying the Red Shirt power structure of having multiple, multiple "leaders."

[Insight]

And people keep saying these bozos are going to "win" the next election. lol

Oh man, don't laugh. You see, our now-politically-savy red-shirt supporters would much prefer the likes of these good-intentioned and ethically sound Thai roll models at the helm over Abhisit "the tyrant" and Korn.

Seriously, how people fall for this crap is beyond me. Money talks in Thai politics, at the top with the politicians right down to the bottom with the voters. Phua Thai are still clearly leading the way here.

[Buchholz]

Pheu Thai's general meeting yesterday also elected former deputy interior minister Supol Fong-ngarm as the party's secretary general.

More of the Shinawatra Grand Scheme. He became Pheu Thai Party Secretary-General through the workings of Yaowapha Wongsawat nee Shinawatra according to the "other paper."

[phupaman]

Hi All.

Reading what Redshirt Leader Siriwat Jupamadtha, It is about the level of of intelect you hae come to expect from A leader of a group of terrorist's, reminds me of Jataporn.

Phupaman.

[Bagwan]

Their members feel that chalerm is the right man for Thailand.

Heaven help us!

He can't even control his own kids.

[Buchholz]

Kowit and Yongyuth

Factions went crazy at thought of Kowit leading party

Rivals for leadership happy to have Yongyuth back as they vie to be PM

Was it just a common power struggle or some kind of double-dealing?

The opposition Pheu Thai Party's effort to change its Party Leader that ended up seeing Yongyuth Wichaidit re-appointed has raised many eyebrows over what is going on with the country's biggest political party.

An investigation by The Nation has found that what transpired was the result of a mixture of policy adjustments on the part of Thaksin Shinawatra and deep-rooted factionalism in the party.

With Yongyuth being a virtual rubber stamp for the party with little de facto power, it was no wonder he started the move to change the party leadership. This was not the first, but rather the fourth time Yongyuth tried to quit this post.

Last week he found the opportunity when the party reached a unanimous resolution to expel two MPs who clearly displayed a stance to defect to other parties. To him it was the best time to quit and pave the way for a party restructuring. Under his plan, more MPs must be appointed to the party executive board and oppose the current board, which is made up mainly of outsiders.

A source in the Pheu Thai said before making the announcement to quit, Yongyuth consulted not only party leaders but also family members of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra who have positions in the party and everyone agreed to his restructuring idea.

Yongyuth also managed to get the nod from the real party leader Thaksin, who at that time happened to be toying with his idea of "national reconciliation" and wanted to replace Yongyuth with someone who could play his reconciliation game.

Kowit Wattana, the former national police chief and former interior minister in the Samak Sundaravej government, came to Thaksin's mind as a sole candidate because Kowit has been seen as a fierce loyalist to the high institution.

Thaksin believed hand-picking Kowit would boost his reconciliation game because being disloyal to the monarchy is among the serious charges haunting Thaksin's camp.

But as Yongyuth was packing up to pave the way for Kowit to step in, many factions in the Pheu Thai Party "went crazy" opposing the move. That left Thaksin with no other option but to shelve any long-term plan and plead with Yongyuth to return.

"Yongyuth and Kowit have a totally different mindset over the premiership. We all know that Yongyuth does not want to be party leader, nor premier, but Kowit would come in with the intention of stepping up as PM. That is why many factions that hoped to see their leaders assume the premiership could not allow this to happen," the source said.

Pheu Thai MPs went to Russia to meet Thaksin because so many PM candidates in the party were upset with the plan - including Pheu Thai Party MPs Chairman Chalerm Yoobamrung, Pheu Thai Party Chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, the-would-be Pheu Thai Party Economic Chairman, Mingkwan Saengsuwan, and Deputy House Speaker Apiwan Wiriyachai, who has the support of the red shirts.

Upon Thakin's request, Yongyuth had no choice but to return to the "rubber stamp" post he has been unhappily holding for two years.

Yongyuth regards Thaksin as a "boss" whom he can never pay back with gratitude.

"The party's direction is clear - the Party Leader and Party Executive Board are supposed to carry out secretarial and ceremonial jobs. The person who will take up the PM's post will be announced later.

It could be Party MP Chairman Chalerm, the Party Chairman Chavalit, the Party Economic Chairman Mingkwan, or the Party Chief Adviser General Chetta Thanajaro," the source said.

The source added that the party did not see the importance of having an opposition party leader since Chalerm had been carrying out this task smoothly. "Even in the US, party leaders do not necessarily become president," he said.

After the reappointment of Yongyuth, national reconciliation efforts go on, but Thaksin has not accepted the condition that he must stop inciting reds because he felt cutting ties with the party and the red shirts would not do him any good.

Thakin's desire for clemency, one of his important conditions for reconciliation, is not only to gain amnesty for the reds charged with terrorism, but also to help the 111 and 109 banned politicians, and to "kill" any cases brought by the coup-installed government.

In the name of bargaining, it is common each side seeks the most they can think of - but negotiation will dictate how both settle their demands.

-- The Nation 2010-09-20

[whybother]

Many red shirt supporters have been (incorrectly) pointing out that Abhisit wasn't elected PM because he didn't become PM directly after the election.

Now the PTP are planning to appoint a PM after they win an election. So the people won't actually be voting for who they want to be PM.

Besides that little glitch for the red shirt supporters, the PTP can't decide now who they want to be PM if they won an election. How will they decide after an election?

[Buchholz]

"The party's direction is clear - the Party Leader and Party Executive Board are supposed to carry out secretarial and ceremonial jobs. The person who will take up the PM's post will be announced later.

It could be Party MP Chairman Chalerm, the Party Chairman Chavalit, the Party Economic Chairman Mingkwan, or the Party Chief Adviser General Chetta Thanajaro," the source said.

Good grief, I thought the former Thaksin Cabinet Minister (Science/Technology and Defense portfolios) Chetta Thanjaro was long ago washed up after the disastrous fraud he committed, with buffoonish actors purporting to be Southern Thailand rebel leaders in which he supposedly brokered a peace deal, was exposed. What a disgraced charlatan he is.

Television broadcast of a group of people claimed to be leaders of southern insurgency

Former Army Chief General Chettha Thanajaro speaks to reporters after a group of self-proclaimed rebel leaders announced ceasefire in the southern provinces of Thailand.

The Nation - July 17, 2008

Just goes to show low the PTP is scrapping the bottom of the political barrel.

And to think he's the "Chief Advisor" for these clowns AND a finalist for the head honcho job.

[animatic]

It appears PTP doesn't even have a barrel to scrape,

or if they do, they can't seem to locate it.

Is it any wonder that the powers that be moved heaven and earth to

prevent the utterly incompetent 3rd string of TRT from taking control of the country

after PPP was dissolved for not being bright enough to not get caught cheating egregiously.

The PTP's years long continued acts of serial stupidities,

seems to validate an other wise poor choice of governmental change over.

[rubl]

"The party's direction is clear - the Party Leader and Party Executive Board are supposed to carry out secretarial and ceremonial jobs. The person who will take up the PM's post will be announced later.

It could be Party MP Chairman Chalerm, the Party Chairman Chavalit, the Party Economic Chairman Mingkwan, or the Party Chief Adviser General Chetta Thanajaro," the source said.

Good grief, I thought the former Thaksin Cabinet Minister (Science/Technology and Defense portfolios) Chetta Thanjaro was long ago washed up after the disastrous fraud he committed, with buffoonish actors purporting to be Southern Thailand rebel leaders in which he supposedly brokered a peace deal, was exposed. What a disgraced charlatan he is.

Television broadcast of a group of people claimed to be leaders of southern insurgency

Former Army Chief General Chettha Thanajaro speaks to reporters after a group of self-proclaimed rebel leaders announced ceasefire in the southern provinces of Thailand.

The Nation - July 17, 2008

Just goes to show low the PTP is scrapping the bottom of the political barrel.

And to think he's the "Chief Advisor" for these clowns AND a finalist for the head honcho job.

Now, now, be fair. The man shows all the qualifications needed for the head honcho job of PTP

(edit: add name of party)

Edited September 20, 2010 by rubl

[SomTumTiger]

I love me some PTP idiots!

[tig28]

Many red shirt supporters have been (incorrectly) pointing out that Abhisit wasn't elected PM because he didn't become PM directly after the election.

"whtbother" please remember that simply because some some dislike the antics of the Democrats -- that definitly does not make them "red shirt supporters."

Abhisit wasn't elected PM because his party was not elected to Government --- by the electorate. The electorate chose the PPP. The PPP won 226 out of 480 of the MP seats, Amazingly close to a majority in the House of Representatives. The Democrat Party came a very distant second with 166 seats.

It was only after the Democrats managed to "acquire" the support of the Newin faction (however distastefully) that they secured sufficient votes in the house to claim Government -- and the position of PM for their leader.

"So the people won't actually be voting for who they want to be PM." Nothing new here!! In Thailand -- like other countries -- the people never vote for the PM.

With this fiasco it is certain the PT not making their political future easier.

[whybother]

Many red shirt supporters have been (incorrectly) pointing out that Abhisit wasn't elected PM because he didn't become PM directly after the election.

"whtbother" please remember that simply because some some dislike the antics of the Democrats -- that definitly does not make them "red shirt supporters."

Abhisit wasn't elected PM because his party was not elected to Government --- by the electorate. The electorate chose the PPP. The PPP won 226 out of 480 of the MP seats, Amazingly close to a majority in the House of Representatives. The Democrat Party came a very distant second with 166 seats.

It was only after the Democrats managed to "acquire" the support of the Newin faction (however distastefully) that they secured sufficient votes in the house to claim Government -- and the position of PM for their leader.

"So the people won't actually be voting for who they want to be PM." Nothing new here!! In Thailand -- like other countries -- the people never vote for the PM.

With this fiasco it is certain the PT not making their political future easier.

Yes. The PPP won 226 seats out of 480. Amazingly close to a majority, but that means jack sh1t, because what they need is a majority.

What the PPP did is "aquire" the support of the Newin faction (however distatefully) that they secured ... Oh!! ... the PPP did the same as the Democrats!

The Democrats got into government in exactly the same way as the PPP did. People voted for their MPs, and the MPs voted for the PM.

Funny that it's acceptable for one side to do it, but not acceptable for the other side to do it. That would be termed "double standards" wouldn't it?

Edited September 20, 2010 by whybother

[tig28]

The Democrats got into government in exactly the same way as the PPP did. People voted for their MPs, and the MPs voted for the PM.

Funny that it's acceptable for one side to do it, but not acceptable for the other side to do it. That would be termed "double standards" wouldn't it?

whybother--- thats an interesting view !!

The PPP were chosen by the electorate to form a Government --- The Democrats on the other hand were rejected by the electorate (yet again). That would be one very major and important difference!!

I understand that many here think that the wishes of the Thai voter should be ignored ---- I do not!!

Just how many elections do the Democrats have to loose before some might consider they are simply not wanted?? Every election this century??

You obviously find nothing untoward in the loosing party "buying" MPs from within the the elected Government to pervert the choice of the electorate. The payment of hugely profitable and influential ministries is acceptable to you??.

Who cares about the wishes of the people ??

There was a huge difference how the two parties " got into government".

[whybother]

The Democrats got into government in exactly the same way as the PPP did. People voted for their MPs, and the MPs voted for the PM.

Funny that it's acceptable for one side to do it, but not acceptable for the other side to do it. That would be termed "double standards" wouldn't it?

whybother--- thats an interesting view !!

The PPP were chosen by the electorate to form a Government --- The Democrats on the other hand were rejected by the electorate (yet again). That would be one very major and important difference!!

I understand that many here think that the wishes of the Thai voter should be ignored ---- I do not!!

Just how many elections do the Democrats have to loose before some might consider they are simply not wanted?? Every election this century??

You obviously find nothing untoward in the loosing party "buying" MPs from within the the elected Government to pervert the choice of the electorate. The payment of hugely profitable and influential ministries is acceptable to you??.

Who cares about the wishes of the people ??

There was a huge difference how the two parties " got into government".

The PPP were NOT "chosen by the electorate". 226 of them were. There were 254 others that were not. That actually means that a majority didn't want them, but that's irrelevant anyway.

The PPP formed government with the help of smaller parties that campaigned that they wouldn't support them. I think that is untoward - campaigning on one thing and doing another.

Just because the PPP won more seats at the election, does not give them the right to govern. They need a majority. At the moment they do not have the support of the majority of MPs. Which means, they do not have the support of the majority of Thailand.

It's all very simple. The MPs represent the people who voted for them. To form government, you need to have the support of the majority of MPs. At the moment the PPP/PTP do NOT have the support of the majority of MPs.

It doesn't matter that the Democrats got less seats than the PPP. What matters is that the Democrats have the support of the majority of MPs. That means the current government has the support of the majority of Thailand.

Everything else is emotional clap trap.

[rubl]

The Democrats got into government in exactly the same way as the PPP did. People voted for their MPs, and the MPs voted for the PM.

Funny that it's acceptable for one side to do it, but not acceptable for the other side to do it. That would be termed "double standards" wouldn't it?

whybother--- thats an interesting view !!

The PPP were chosen by the electorate to form a Government --- The Democrats on the other hand were rejected by the electorate (yet again). That would be one very major and important difference!!

I understand that many here think that the wishes of the Thai voter should be ignored ---- I do not!!

Just how many elections do the Democrats have to loose before some might consider they are simply not wanted?? Every election this century??

You obviously find nothing untoward in the loosing party "buying" MPs from within the the elected Government to pervert the choice of the electorate. The payment of hugely profitable and influential ministries is acceptable to you??.

Who cares about the wishes of the people ??

There was a huge difference how the two parties " got into government".

Both the PPP and the Dem's had candidates elected directly and through the election system both got a few more MP's thrown in. The PPP had nearly half of the MP's, the Dem's about 25% less. Looking at numbers of votes both got about the same number.

To say PPP were choosen, Dem's were rejected is politicians speak.

From the movie "The Hunt for Red October":

'I'm a politician which means I cheat and I lie. When not kissing babies I steal their lollipops'

[Buchholz]

It's nearly 2 years since the election and people still don't understand that the Democrats are the elected government.

Mind-boggling.

[tig28]

If my memory serves correctly there have only ever been two majority elected Governments in Thailand's history. Coalition Governments are the norm here. Thailand - like all countries with a similar electoral process - provides the opportunity to form a Government via a coalition with minor parties.

After winning the Dec 2007 elections the PPP formed such a coalition (as per normal) with minor parties who very obviously has campaigned against all other political parties in the election. What do you find untoward in this?? Really strange! Every coalition Government worldwide is formed in this manner.

What is untoward is the loosing party "purchasing" MPs of the Government --- so that even after loosing an election (yet again) they could grasp power.!! And its not as though they even paid For Newins 22 pocket MPs (all PPP) with their own money -- instead they just handed over a couple of the more "profitable' portfolios. Let the public pay. Twice!

[ballpoint]

It's nearly 2 years since the election and people still don't understand that the Democrats are the elected government.

Mind-boggling.

Correction, it's nearly 3 years since the election, and nearly 2 years since the PPP were disbanded because they cheated in it.

Every time one of the many threads exposing the flaws of the PTP or red shirts comes along the same old argument comes out in an attempt to hijack it.

[Buchholz]

It's nearly 2 years since the election and people still don't understand that the Democrats are the elected government.

Mind-boggling.

Correction, it's nearly 3 years since the election, and nearly 2 years since the PPP were disbanded because they cheated in it.

Every time one of the many threads exposing the flaws of the PTP or red shirts comes along the same old argument comes out in an attempt to hijack it.

Yes, you're right of course. It's so mind-boggling numbing to see it so often, it's too staggering to realize that nearly 3 years has passed and people seemingly still can't comprehend it.

[rubl]

If my memory serves correctly there have only ever been two majority elected Governments in Thailand's history. Coalition Governments are the norm here. Thailand - like all countries with a similar electoral process - provides the opportunity to form a Government via a coalition with minor parties.

After winning the Dec 2007 elections the PPP formed such a coalition (as per normal) with minor parties who very obviously has campaigned against all other political parties in the election. What do you find untoward in this?? Really strange! Every coalition Government worldwide is formed in this manner.

What is untoward is the loosing party "purchasing" MPs of the Government --- so that even after loosing an election (yet again) they could grasp power.!! And its not as though they even paid For Newins 22 pocket MPs (all PPP) with their own money -- instead they just handed over a couple of the more "profitable' portfolios. Let the public pay. Twice!

In 2007 elections PPP got 233 MP's. New party formed after TRT disbanded, TRT had 374 MP's in 2005 (with various small parties thrown in). The Dem's had 96 MP's in 2005, 165 in 2007. Obviously some see this as loosing. Well, counting with only ten fingers ain't easy for some.

As for purchasing MP's, please do tell me how the political haggling between Dem's and BJT is different from how TRT was founded in the first place, how small parties were 'persuaded' to join TRT in 2001, how things were in 2005 and April 2006.

Thank you

Edited September 20, 2010 by rubl

[brahmburgers]

Their members feel that chalerm is the right man for Thailand.

Heaven help us!

He can't even control his own kids.

To some degree, I can understand not being able to control one's children - particularly when they get older and move out of the house. I can also understand how some people are just bad parents, and often the behavior of the kids is a reflection of that. The Chalerms are a prime example.

However, I cannot get behind how a father can blatantly deny the wrongdoings of his children (was he there at the scene of the crime?), and then break the law himself, while keeping the child (20-something) from facing the music. Chalerm lied and, in some ways, was an accessory to a serious crime - murdering a policeman. .....and Chalerm is one of the best people Pheu Thai has for top political position? Pretty sicko situation, if you ask me. ....or don't ask me, instead ask the widow and child of the policeman who was murdered - shot at point blank range in front of a crowd of onlookers, not one of whom had the courage to speak the truth.

With a Puppetmaster like Thaksin and a top officer like Chalerm, the PT party should change its name to the Party That Cannot Tell the Truth - a.k.a. PTCTT.