Pheu Thai Has Mandate And Must Use It Well

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NATION COMMENT

Pheu Thai has mandate and must use it well

By The Nation

Despite numerous speculations about the state of Thai democracy and a consequential deeply divided nation, the Thai people cast their votes yesterday in a high turnout, which can only bode well for our troubled political system.

The result was a simple-majority mandate for the opposition Pheu Thai Party, which must learn from the past and exercise its legitimacy in a way that can take Thailand out of the years-old and sometimes violent crisis.

The party ran a slick election campaign highlighted by the nomination of Yingluck Shinawatra, the younger sister of ex-prime minister Thaksin, as possibly Thailand's first female prime minister.

The election results at press time give a mandate for the Pheu Thai Party to form the next government.

And it should proceed to do so.

While the Democrat Party will have to lick its wounds

from this election loss and prepare to play a role as a good opposition, Pheu Thai carries on its shoulders a massive responsibility to create a government whose legitimacy does not rest solely on a numerical majority in the House of Representatives.

The party executives should learn this lesson from the misfortunes that beset its predecessors - the Thai Rak Thai and People Power parties.

As ruling parties, both at times eroded the reserve of goodwill that hinges on maintaining political legitimacy - and consequently encouraged unwarranted street politics and military intervention.

And with this we welcome Yingluck's political-reconciliation olive branch to heal the divided nation.

We welcome the pro-change and pro-reform approach to government as highlighted by Dr Olarn Chaipravat, chief economic-policy strategist of the Pheu Thai Party, because Thailand economically and politically has reached a critical juncture as a nation-state.

Political legitimacy contains both written and unwritten rules.

This is about the exercise of good and honest leadership. It is about tackling both financial and political corruption.

It is about maintaining justice, fairness, and freedom of the press.

This leaves no room for amnesty to any person. Nor is the road paved with roses for the expected next female and inexperienced Thai prime minister, as Yingluck's professional political career is just six weeks old.

With the party expected to have a slim majority in the House, Thai voters have handed Pheu Thai a limited mandate.

-- The Nation 2011-07-04

[Jingthing]

This leaves no room for amnesty to any person. Nor is the road paved with roses for the expected next female and inexperienced Thai prime minister, as Yingluck's professional political career is just six weeks old.

Clearly the people who voted for the clone of Thaksin feel they were voting for amnesty for Thaksin. So no room or not, that agenda remains unaltered.

[ozzieman05]

My wife and I would like to say congradulations to the new Thai Government, but also warn Thais you may have opened Pandora's Box

In Australia we have a Female Prime Minister who won the election with Lie after lie and is sending our country down a roller coaster of destruction

If the new Government do what they said before the election and put the people first before her older brother, maybe Thailand can find peace

But if her election promises where just lies like the Australian Prime Minister, Thailand has sad days ahead

[Pi Sek]

I can't believe I - a vocal critic of Peua Thai, for very good reasons I think - am saying this, but let's give Yinglak the opportunity to prove my ilk wrong.

For most of this morning I have been asking those around me (in the entire Southern region, Peua Thai did not win a single seat) - to stay calm. There are not many happy people around me in my office at the moment - most of the conversation has been "forget about that new road in Phang Nga" and "Surat will now have no budget".

[ozzieman05]

I can't believe I - a vocal critic of Peua Thai, for very good reasons I think - am saying this, but let's give Yinglak the opportunity to prove my ilk wrong.

For most of this morning I have been asking those around me (in the entire Southern region, Peua Thai did not win a single seat) - to stay calm. There are not many happy people around me in my office at the moment - most of the conversation has been "forget about that new road in Phang Nga" and "Surat will now have no budget".

\

Yes all we hear is the poor people in the North East

and the 91 who died after saying "We are ready to die" and put them selves in form of bullets, they must have expected them to bounce off

But what about the hundreds who dies in the south

and the way they are treated

No votes from the south so forget them

[notime]

This leaves no room for amnesty to any person. Nor is the road paved with roses for the expected next female and inexperienced Thai prime minister, as Yingluck's professional political career is just six weeks old.

Clearly the people who voted for the clone of Thaksin feel they were voting for amnesty for Thaksin. So no room or not, that agenda remains unaltered.

She is NOT a clone of Thaksin irregardless of what he may have said. Just look - she is a woman. Any woman cloned from man? (not talking religion here okie?). Even is she's following what her older brother says she will soon have her own style and ideas. Look at the "clone" of Putin Mr. Medvedev. And it's definitely not clear to me that amnesty for Thaksin was the priority for the PT voters. The vote for many was that of dissatisfaction with the Democrat government doing very little to tackle the worsening economic situation. As a foreigner I also don't shed any tears for Abhisit who didn't do anything to prevent the slide in our situation in this country. Who knows, maybe Thaksin's good business sense and willingness to modernise Thailand, even if for his own recognition and glory, will actually benefit us.

[virtualtraveller]

Ozzieman 05, Ok OK, we get you and your wife's point, you've posted the same paragraph into nearly a dozen different threads, boring old geezer!

[jacobus]

I hate to see the globalist stooge, Thaksin -- puppet of the western establishment, back in power, by proxy or otherwise.

http://landdestroyer.blogspot.com/

[ozzieman05]

Ozzieman 05, Ok OK, we get you and your wife's point, you've posted the same paragraph into nearly a dozen different threads, boring old geezer!

You must not have travelled very far prior to the election

PT signs ever 50 feet

seems this idea worked with them

[DP25]

Despite numerous speculations about the state of Thai democracy and a consequential deeply divided nation, the Thai people cast their votes yesterday in a high turnout, which can only bode well for our troubled political system.

The turnout was a lot less than in 2007. 85% in 2007 versus 71% in 2011. 6 million fewer people voted. The 'no vote' campaign has likely caused millions to not bother voting and handed Thaksin a victory.

[Jingthing]

That's very true. Those voting NO or feeling NO inflating the PTP win. If I was Thai, I would probably feel NO as well, but not as support of PAD, but as lack of support for any likely winner. I think the best result would have been a totally fresh progressive party with no links to Thaksin or the democrats.

Edited July 4, 2011 by Jingthing

[Mrjlh]

Take a step back and look at the whole picture. Abhisit, for what its worth, was never in a position to do anything worthwhile. Look at all the crap he was exposed too! He really got caught between two political forces fighting each other, then the unrest in the south, along with the BS with Cambodia. Not only that he had to deal with several natural disasters as well.

His biggest headache was dealing with the protest in Bangkok which everyone north seems to forget but Bangkok and everyone south hasn't. And that issue is still not resolved. Now what do you suppose is going to happen with the glorious eleven I think it is? Without naming names is the judicial system going to be allowed to run it course without interference? If some one returns will they go to jail? Those who bailed out of the country to avoid prosecution, will they be allowed to return to face charges or just walk free?

How long will Thailand's new PM last? Strong enough without family advice? Big questions lay ahead. Many promises made but will they be held accountable for them? Stay tuned for the next exciting chapter in LOS...and one last comment...fix corruption? Let's see how much big money really buys?