Sunday By-election Gives Opposition More Seats

[Jai Dee]

SUNDAY BY-ELECTION RESULTS GIVE THE OPPOSITION MORE SEATS

The ruling Thai Rak Thai Party has managed to grab one out of the four seats offered in the Sunday by-elections in Phichit, Sing Buri, Satun and Uthai Thani.

In the Constituency 1 of Sing Buri, Mr. Phayab Panket (พายัพ ปั้นเกตุ) of Thai Rak Thai gained 780 more votes than Chart Thai Party candidate Chaiwuth Thanakhamanusorn (ชัยวุฒิ ธนาคมานุสรณ์). Mr Phayab gained a total of 53,696 supporters.

In Phichit, Mr. Siriwat Kajornprasart (ศิริวัฒน์ ขจรประศาสน์), son of Mahachon Party leader Sanan Kajornprasart (สนั่น ขจรประศาสน์), beat his rival from Thai Rak Thai by more than 15,000 votes. In Uthai Thani, Chart Thai candidate Thiraphan Wirayuthwattana (ธีรพันธ์ วีระยุทธวัฒนะ) also defeated the candidate from the ruling party by nearly 10,000 votes. In the southern province of Satun, there was only one candidate from the Democrat Party. Mr. Hozali Malem (ฮอซาลี ม่าเหร็ม) won support from 46,296 voters, or 66.18 percent of the eligible voters in that constituency.

Secretary-General of the Election Commission EKACHAI WARUNPRAPHA (เอกชัย วารุณประภา) said he was satisfied with the overall outcome of the by-elections with more than 60 percent of voter turnout at all constituencies.

The Opposition also welcomed the results which have raised the number of Opposition MPs to 125. This means the Opposition has gained the required one-fifth of the 500-seat House of Representatives, to submit a motion for a general debate for the purpose of passing a vote of no-confidence in an individual ministers.

Source: thaisnews.com ประจำวันจันทร์ที่ 31 ตุลาคม 2548

[Jai Dee]

THAI RAK THAI PARTY ACCEPTS ELECTION DEFEATS

Executives of the Thai Rak Thai party accepted defeats in the Sunday by-elections, while the opposition reiterated that the election victory which increased its numbers of MPs to 125 says it all as it can now file a no-confidence motion against individual ministers.

Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office Suranand Vejjajiva (สุรนันทน์ เวชชาชีวะ), speaking as an executive of the Thai Rak Thai party, said that the party accepted the people's decisions, as there may be some issues that the people are dissatisfied with the government policies. He said that after the election results are officially announced, the party leaders will have to hold a discussion to evaluate the situation and improve the party's performance in the next elections.

Mr. Suranand added that despite election defeats, the Thai Rak Thai party will continue working for the people, both in government level and local levels, as by-elections can be organized again anytime.

Deputy opposition whip Suwaroj Palang (สุวโรช พะลัง) said that the number of the opposition MPs have raised to 125, a figure required by the laws for the opposition to file a censure motion on individual ministers. He said that this will prove useful for the opposition, which is charged with checking the government.

Source: thaisnews.com ประจำวันอังคารที่ 1 พฤศจิกายน 2548

[Jai Dee]

ELECTION RESULTS ANNOUNCED IN FOUR PROVINCES

The Election Commission (EC) has concluded the results of by-elections on Sunday in four provinces, saying that more than 60% of voters turned up at poll stations but many defective vote ballots were found. Meanwhile, the President of the Election Commission said the EC could endorse election results immediately, if there are no complaints filed.

Directors of Election Commission offices in Pichit (พิจิตร), Satun (สตูล), Singburi (สิงห์บุรี), and Utaitani (อุทัยธานี) have announced official results of the by-elections held on Sunday. In constituency 3 of Pichit, 63.06% of the voters turned up at voting booths on Dunday. Mr. Siriwat Kajornprasart (สิริวัฒน์ ขจรประสาสน์) from Mahachon (มหาชน) party won the election with 39,412 votes. About 5.84% of voting ballots are found to be defective.

In the 2nd Constituency of Satun, 66.17% of registered voters came to vote on Sunday. Hozali Malem from Democrat party received 46,296 votes winning the election. In Constituency 1 of Singburi, about 68.47% of voters turned up at the poll stations. Mr. Phayup Pankai (พายัพ ปั้นเกต) from Thai Rak Thai party defeated his rival, receiving 53,669 votes. And in Constituency 1 of Utaitani (อุทัยธานี), Mr. Thirapan Wirayuthwattana (ธีระพันธ์ วีระยุทธวัฒนะ) won the election, receiving 40,299 votes.

Meanwhile, secretary-general of the EC, Police General Wassana Puemlab (วาสนา เพิ่มลาภ) said that the EC is waiting its provincial offices to submit vote tallies to the Central EC in Bangkok. Police General Wassana said the EC could announce official election results immediately, if there are no complaints regarding the elections. As for the report on fliers distributed to discredit candidates in Singburi (สิงห์บุรี), the EC secretary-general said that if the report is proven true, the EC will deem that there were irregularities in the election.

Source: thaisnews.com ประจำวันอังคารที่ 1 พฤศจิกายน 2548

[TAWP]

Funny thing...I didn't notice there was an election since no-one around here knew about it...or cared perhaps.

[Kido]

"No line (extension) , No seats"

[andyfletch]

Response from the PM........... this in todays Bangkok Post

PM under heavy fire for offering special treatment

PRADIT RUANGDIT

Criticism has poured in after Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said provinces which did not vote for his Thai Rak Thai party will be the last to receive help from the government. His comments came just hours after his party was crushed in by-elections on Sunday by the Mahachon party in Phichit and by the Chart Thai party in Uthai Thani. Thai Rak Thai won by a narrow margin in Sing Buri.

Mr Thaksin told a meeting of grassroots leaders that not all provinces could receive state assistance at the same time and provinces which supported Thai Rak Thai would receive special treatment.

``I'm not going to beat around the bush. The provinces which place their trust in us will be given special care,'' he said.

``Of course, we will look after the entire country. But time is not on our side and so the provinces which trust us less will come in later. They will get help, but it will be later in the queue.''

The remarks, made before Mr Thaksin chaired a mobile cabinet meeting in Nakhon Sawan, sparked outrage from critics and the public. Scathing messages were posted on many website forums in response to the comments. ``This country doesn't belong to the prime minister. Everyone pays taxes,'' one message read.

Other messages said Mr Thaksin's attitude aggravated the separatist unrest in the South.

``This is the root of the southern problem which has everything to do with people there not choosing Thai Rak Thai. Must there be peace first before [southern residents] are granted their share of government funds?''

Mr Thaksin also drew flak from the opposition and academics.

Opposition Leader Abhisit Vejjajiva slammed the remarks as unacceptable, saying people have the right to support any political party without undermining their entitlement to equal services, welfare and state support.

``The money to care for people comes from taxpayers, not Mr Thaksin's pockets. He must deal with national problems as they really are,'' Mr Abhisit said.

If Mr Thaksin's words reflect his true beliefs, it would be tantamount to using ``policy-oriented bribery and extortion'' to run the country, he said.

``This is something democratically-minded people will find hard to swallow,'' the Democrat leader said. He warned that such inconsiderate remarks would send the public the wrong message and ruin the sanctity of the prime minister's status.

Theerapat Serirangsan, of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, said the prime minister's job was to ensure equal well-being for everyone and not to use state resources for his party's benefit. The political scientist said wearing too many hats may have confused Mr Thaksin. The prime minister leads Thai Rak Thai as well as the country, he said, and when he confuses the roles he is no longer fit to lead the government.

[Sandstone Art]

So, what's next?

Those not using AIS phone services will be last in the Q for other telecommunications benefits??

[womble]

I'm surprised this topic hasn't had more posts, does no one here follow Thai politics?

It's actually quite a significant event, as it means it's possible to impeach ministers if they are proved to be corrupt.

It also shows lessening support in the north for TRT, which I think came as a surprise to most.

and this was quite an amazing statement:

"The provinces which place their trust in us will be given special care"

It certainly seems to have created quite a stir, even Thai Rath reported it, the constitution states that no preferential treatment can be given regardless of political views, religion, race etc etc.

Edited November 2, 2005 by womble

[Heng]

Provinces, districts, etc. that get their people in have always gotten preferential treatment. Ever notice how some provinces are more developed than others? The PM is just unnecessarily stating what's going to happen anyways.

[womble]

Provinces, districts, etc. that get their people in have always gotten preferential treatment.  Ever notice how some provinces are more developed than others?  The PM is just unnecessarily stating what's going to happen anyways.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah ofcourse we all know that, look at parts of London, or what happened in New Orleans, that's a prime example.

Difference is you wouldn't hear Bush or Blair state it publicly, expecially on a campaign trail.

Political suicide in the west for sure.

Whilst not suicide in this part of the world, there must be wiser things to say.

[Jai Dee]

I'm surprised this topic hasn't had more posts, does no one here follow Thai politics?

I think you'll find that many of us do follow Thai politics with interest, but unlike in the west, we have no means of influencing them.

As guests in Thailand, we can but only observe and comment.

[womble]

I'm surprised this topic hasn't had more posts, does no one here follow Thai politics?

I think you'll find that many of us do follow Thai politics with interest, but unlike in the west, we have no means of influencing them.

As guests in Thailand, we can but only observe and comment.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Seems like most people are simply observing this one then.

Looks like people follow the storys, but many arn't interested in the Politics that make them.

Funny how a topic about sending a Thai into space gets four pages mostly of meaningless insults, where as a pretty serious story which could infact have strong implications recieves next to nothing.

[Jai Dee]

Funny how a topic about sending a Thai into space gets four pages mostly of meaningless insults, where as a pretty serious story which could infact have strong implications recieves next to nothing.

I know exactly what you mean...

I also find it interesting that the stories you hear on the Thai radio that get the most coverage and follow-up, do not receive the same attention on ThaiVisa.

Maybe that says something about our members?

[otherstuff1957]

Actually, I think that most of us are simply speechless! What can you say to such an overtly thuggish statement like Toxins?

[sbk]

Actually, I think that most of us are simply speechless!    What can you say to such an overtly thuggish statement like Toxins? 

Well, I was certainly amazed he said it out loud. People in the south have long known they will receive no support from TRT which is why they never win in the South. Even after the tsunami they barely gained in the South. And for good reason since it seems the poorest of the poor affected by the tsunami received very little help.

My husband said the thai webboards are filled with discussion about this, seems most of the computer literate people in this country are not TRT members.

[Butterfly]

What a sore loser !!!

On the top of being snotty and arrogant, he is incompetent.

He thinks he can run the country like a "marketing" campaign, and obviously, this is failing.

I like many of his ideas and he is right about many things, it's just poor execution and his lack of respects for others and institutions that annoys me. If he was more like Leepai, respectful, with political capital, he would accomplish a lot more. Instead he throwing tantrum like a 4 year old everytime he doesn't get what he wants. Ridiculous.