Sending food back to the kitchen?

[webfact]

THAI TALK
Why are they talking about an early election?
Suthichai Yoon
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Political pundits seem to have come to the conclusion that the ruling Pheu Thai Party is gunning for an early election, perhaps before the end of the year, or even earlier.

The reason is quite simple: ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra has told his party members that dissolution of Parliament and a new election are the obvious strategy to adopt if things don't go the way the party wants in the House and Senate. Of course, you don't call a new election unless you are confident you will win. Pheu Thai has every reason to be certain that it will win another election, perhaps with a larger margin than in the previous one.

It's becoming a political fact here: Thaksin plots, Pheu Thai acts and Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva reacts.

The opposition leader seems to have convinced himself that Thaksin meant what he said when he announced that he badly wanted to come home - and perhaps a new election might bring that scenario closer to reality.

How? The proposed "reconciliation bill" has been deferred several times in the House in the face of strong opposition from the Democrats and a sizeable section of the population. That's not as bad or unexpected as the fact that some factions within Pheu Thai and its allied parties have been reluctant to go all the way in backing the bill for fear of a popular backlash against them.

That naturally has irked Thaksin, who, without naming names, accused some MPs of lacking the guts to push through the bill and constitutional amendments. His solution: Pheu Thai must have an absolute majority in Parliament to make sure that all the laws he wants passed will be approved. And achieving that means another election sooner than the expiration of the four-year term. Now, it seems, he doesn't even want to wait until half of the term is completed. Patience is clearly not one of his strengths.

Opposition leader Abhisit seems resigned to the fact that the new election will come long before his Democrat Party is ready to put up a fight. But it's not him who calls the shots.

The opposition leader points to Pheu Thai's move to pressure the Constitutional Court over its decision to accept a petition against the government's attempt to amend Section 68 of the charter. The government argues that the court doesn't have the authority to review the issue. Pheu Thai MPs claim that the court, by taking up the complaint, is meddling in parliamentary affairs.

But timing is everything in politics. The ruling party probably wouldn't want a snap election before it pushes through the controversial Bt2-trillion infrastructure loan bill. For obvious reasons, it's crucial that the powers-that-be go into an election with the authority to spend huge amounts of money. Mega-projects are usually godsends for politicians, who can use them as election campaign pledges and also to highlight their ability to channel the budget to their pet projects.

The infrastructure loan bill, in fact, passed in the first reading despite questions about transparency, accountability and return on investment. There is little doubt that Pheu Thai could ram it through the second and third readings in the next parliamentary session, which will also consider the 2014 budget.

Once the matters of money are passed into law, Pheu Thai MPs will be ready to go to the hustings to ask for a new, bigger mandate to rule.

There are also "real reasons" why an early election has become an urgent matter for the government. Populism has caught up with the administration, and before the growing number of questions become unanswerable, holding an election to distract critics from the hot issues has become a must.

The rice price-pledging scheme has hit a wall. Unsold paddy is piling up at government godowns and the huge losses can't be covered up until the scheduled election. The Bt300 minimum wage has also become a hot potato, and the dissolution of the oil fund is another huge question with no ready answers.

Thaksin is confident he will win again. Abhisit says he isn't sure he can turn the tide. But as we the citizens prepare for the possibility of going to the polls again, I am reminded of an old quote from a long time ago: "If you don't vote, you get the government you deserve. If you do, you never get the result you expect."

-- The Nation 2013-05-23

[chainarong]

One of the oldest tricks in the book, if the opposition is not up to scratch, call an election , another mandate from the peasants to pillage the coffers a little further and place into the ministry more criminals, why not , the Dem's must understand that you must be on top of your game in this day n age, it's entirely up to them to to be either window dressing or the real deal ,don't start at the bottom of the organization , the problems lie at the top, once again I reiterate, you only have yourself to blame, the same could be said for the reason motor mouth is living in Dubai, a very bad move in allowing this man to go to the Beijing Olympics.

[OzMick]

PTP already have a majority in parliament. Having a bigger majority won't stop educated people from bridling at their criminality and ineptitude.

[billd766]

Didn't Thaksin try this once before in 2006?

[bigbamboo]

How telling is this.

An article about a possible Thai general election and it's all about Thaksin. Not a single mention for the 'real PM', his sister Khun Yingluck. Even opposition leader Abhisit gets a few namechecks.

I wonder how her new spokesman will feel about this. I guess he'll have to ask his boss in Dubai.

[waza]

It make sense, hopefully it will backfire

[ratcatcher]

"It's about ME, always is, always has been and always will be"

Edited May 23, 2013 by metisdead
Large font reset to normal.

[Thereisnoif]

Only because Mark mentioned it in an interview, where he also acknowledged that if it did happen he will most probably lose the election, as he always has and always will .

[yoshiwara]

Only because Mark mentioned it in an interview, where he also acknowledged that if it did happen he will most probably lose the election, as he always has and always will .

For Thaksin it has never been about winning an election, otherwise having a government in power would be marked by achievement. No, for Thaksin it is about achieving state power and the resultant seizure of control of all the institutions of the state. To that end the PTP government has failed Thaksin to date. Threatening an election, rattling the redshirt cage with talk of Jatuporn in the cabinet all efforts to keep the focus on the main event. His return. The forum Thaksin cheerleaders as always panting at the thought.

[Thaddeus]

Only because Mark mentioned it in an interview, where he also acknowledged that if it did happen he will most probably lose the election, as he always has and always will .

Would you like to take the reigns of this country, try to explain all the failed promises of the previous government, and then try to make all the people feel happy and needed.

That is a mammoth task.

If I was Mark, I wouldn't even stand for election, let PTP sail this ship alone for another four years if an election is called, then the duped and confused may wake up.

Army, stand aside.

Mark, stand aside.

Show these brigands up for what they really are.

It will hurt mind, but it just could be worth it.

[Robby nz]

Would you like to take the reigns of this country, try to explain all the failed promises of the previous government, and then try to make all the people feel happy and needed.

That is a mammoth task.

If I was Mark, I wouldn't even stand for election, let PTP sail this ship alone for another four years if an election is called, then the duped and confused may wake up.

Army, stand aside.

Mark, stand aside.

Show these brigands up for what they really are.

It will hurt mind, but it just could be worth it.

Yes Thaddeus I have thought along these lines as well.

Why would anyone want to take over at this point in time?

There are so many things to sort out, the rice mountain for a start.

There is no way to repair that one without losing a lot of money and probably a lot of support into the bargain.

Best to leave PT to sort out their own mess.

Problem is I doubt there is any willingness to fix things for the country as they are doing very well as is, and with bring the boss back being the priority things can only get worse.

Given another 4 years they would have had time to remove all the checks and balances, get Thaksin back as PM, then would the people have a chance to vote them out or would the country have "moved closer to the Cambodian model of democracy" as suggested by someone in PT some time back.

[yoshiwara]

Would you like to take the reigns of this country, try to explain all the failed promises of the previous government, and then try to make all the people feel happy and needed.

That is a mammoth task.

If I was Mark, I wouldn't even stand for election, let PTP sail this ship alone for another four years if an election is called, then the duped and confused may wake up.

Army, stand aside.

Mark, stand aside.

Show these brigands up for what they really are.

It will hurt mind, but it just could be worth it.

Yes Thaddeus I have thought along these lines as well.

Why would anyone want to take over at this point in time?

There are so many things to sort out, the rice mountain for a start.

There is no way to repair that one without losing a lot of money and probably a lot of support into the bargain.

Best to leave PT to sort out their own mess.

Problem is I doubt there is any willingness to fix things for the country as they are doing very well as is, and with bring the boss back being the priority things can only get worse.

Given another 4 years they would have had time to remove all the checks and balances, get Thaksin back as PM, then would the people have a chance to vote them out or would the country have "moved closer to the Cambodian model of democracy" as suggested by someone in PT some time back.

Anybody who thinks giving a free pass to Thaksin is an option needs their head examined. A bad idea. Edited May 24, 2013 by yoshiwara