Suthep May Avoid Axe In Senate Vote

[webfact]

ANALYSIS

Suthep may avoid axe in Senate vote

Prapasri Osathanon,

Khanittha Thepphajorn

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Senate will today vote on the impeachment of Democrat MP Suthep Thaugsuban for allegedly abusing power by interfering in the work of permanent officials at the Culture Ministry when he was deputy prime minister in the last administration.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission has been seeking Suthep's impeachment for allegedly violating Articles 268 and 266 of the Constitution.

As per Article 274, votes from at least three-fifths of the senators are needed to launch impeachment proceedings against Suthep. Since there are 146 senators - 76 elected and 70 appointed - 88 votes are needed to "kick" Suthep out of the political arena and keep him out for five years. The veteran politician has said he would just spend this time raising his grandchildren.

However, it may not be easy to get 88 senators to vote against Suthep, because there there are many groups with different political ideologies.

Yet, looking back at the recent voting for the new Senate speaker, elected senators closely connected with the government camp including some appointed senators threw their weight behind Chachoengsao Senator Nikom Wairatpanit, who beat other appointed candidates by amassing 77 votes.

So, maybe Suthep can feel a chill going down his spine.

However, electing the Senate speaker and impeaching a politician are two entirely different matters because the drive for Nikom was backed by not just elected senators, but also politicians from the government.

It is quite difficult to get 88 out of 146 votes because some elected senators feel that the charges against Suthep were not that serious. This is especially true for elected senators from the South, which is the Democrats' stronghold. This connection and Suthep's influence can perhaps help him survive.

From the 70 appointed senators, about 50 were selected under the push from the Council of National Security, which is believed to support the Democrats. They have decided not to vote against Suthep.

Besides, the ruling Pheu Thai Party, which is too busy dealing with flood-related problems, has been very quiet over Suthep. Maybe they think it is not worth lobbying for votes against Suthep, because he faces many other cases in relation to the 2010 crackdown.

The Nation has learned that about 50-65 senators think he should be impeached. An earlier estimate from the elected senators' group was for at least 60 to vote against Suthep, but this dropped to 40. Considering this, it is unlikely that there will be enough votes to kick Suthep out.

As for Pheu Thai, it is not afraid of a veteran politician like Suthep. What it finds formidable is the military.

Though it looks like Suthep is going to escape impeachment, his political career will unarguably be badly scarred.

Appointed Senator Pichet Sunthornphipit said that he had not been approached by anybody to lobby for his vote. The required three-fifths of votes is believed to be too high, but it is said to be a measure to prevent persecution. After all, the Senate is not a court.

"I cannot say if Suthep will be impeached. But if a lot of senators think he should be impeached, and even if there are not enough votes to do so, his reputation and image will be affected. He would not be graceful as a politician and in the future, his rival party would attack him on the issue," he said.

Nakhon Pathom Senator Somchart Pannapat also said he was surprised that no one had tried to lobby his vote, though this might be a good sign for the Senate's independence.

-- The Nation 2012-09-18

[nurofiend]

So, maybe Suthep can feel a chill going down his spine.

spine?

[Pib]

I don't think the Senate wants to impeach anyone as that means the upper class (regardless of political party) are beginning to turn on its own....a trend could be started....could lead to more politicians being impeached....don't want that.

[whybother]

Pity.

Sent from my HTC phone.

[webfact]

RT @tulsathit: Urgent: Suthep comfortably survives impeachment vote. Only 40 senators vote against him against 95 in support.

[webfact]

Suthep survives senatorial impeachment process

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Democrat Party former secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban Tuesday survived an impeachment vote by the Senate.

Only 40 senators voted for his impeachment while 95 senators rejected the impeachment proposal. Three others abstained.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission asked the Senate to impeach Suthep on charges that he abused his authority as a deputy prime minister of the Abhisit government to ask a minister to appoint some Democrat MPs and members to work for the ministry.

-- The Nation 2012-09-18

[Pib]

I hope this ain't a surprise to anyone.

[nidieunimaitre]

And the palm oil scam is fogotten ?

Or any charges there?

[animatic]

No surprises here. Just move along.

[webfact]

Democrat Suthep cleared from allegation, retains MP status

BANGKOK, Sept 18 – Former Thai deputy premier Suthep Thuagsuban was saved from the axe today as the Senate voted 95 to 40 to retain his status as a member of parliament.

Three senators abstained in a secret roll call secret balloting which lasted more than an hour.

Senate Speaker Nikom Wairatpanich said the decision will be formally forwarded to the Anti-Corruption Committee (ACC)—the plaintiff in the case, the Office of Cabinet Secretariat and related government agencies, as well as Mr Suthep himself—the defendant. Mr Suthep is a deputy leader of the opposition Democrat Party.

Mr Nikom said the senate’s resolution was unrelated to a trial by the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Persons Holding Political Positions.

Mr Suthep was charged with interfering in the Culture Ministry’s authority by sending a letter asking for a group of MP and personnel to work there. His action, according to the ACC, was in violation of Article 273 of the constitution.

The plaintiff and the defendant on Monday gave their final verbal statements in the Senate. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-09-18

[asiawatcher]

Does anyone really care?

[whybother]

Does anyone really care?

Yes.

As unfortunate as it is that he wasn't expelled, no one should really be surprised.

[webfact]

POLITICS

Suthep retains his MP status

The Nation

File photo : Suthep

BANGKOK: -- Former deputy premier Suthep Thuagsuban was saved from the axe on Tuesday as the Senate voted 95 to 40 to retain his status as a member of parliament.

Three senators abstained in a secret roll call secret balloting which lasted more than an hour. Senate Speaker Nikom Wairatpanich said the decision will be formally forwarded to the Anti-Corruption Committee (ACC) - the plaintiff in the case, the Office of Cabinet Secretariat and related government agencies, as well as Suthep himself - the defendant. Suthep is a deputy leader of the opposition Democrat Party.

Nikom said the senate's resolution was unrelated to a trial by the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Persons Holding Political Positions.

Suthep was charged with interfering in the Culture Ministry's authority by sending a letter asking for a group of MP and personnel to work there. His action, according to the ACC, was in violation of Article 273 of the constitution.

The plaintiff and the defendant on Monday gave their final verbal statements in the Senate.

-- The Nation 2012-09-18