PM Yingluck says losing 37 year Don Mueang constituency 'not a big loss'

[webfact]

PM says losing 37 year Don Mueang constituency 'not a big loss'
By Digital Media



BANGKOK, June 17 – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said today that several factors led to the ruling Pheu Thai party’s defeat in yesterday’s by-election in Don Mueang constituency.

She said party candidate Yuranant Pamornmontri had only 18 days to campaign and Pheu Thai’s pre-election activities were not coherent.

Don Mueang has been a ruling party stronghold for the last 37 years and the loss to Democrat candidate Tankhun Chitt-isara was, to many political observers including the opposition party, a major government loss.

The prime minister, however, said she would not describe it as a major defeat, saying a by-election and a general election are different.

Voters concentrate on a party’s policy in a general election while a by-election involves public works for residents in the constituency, she said.

Newly-elected MP Tankhun and a number of Democrat MPs and party members today led a caravan around the Don Mueang constituency to express their appreciation to the local residents for their support to the party.

Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said the party’s historic victory in Don Mueang was an indirect signal to the government to improve its performance, especially regarding the public’s economic situation, the government’s ‘lavish spending’ and ongoing internal conflicts.

Mr Tankhun said he will closely coordinate with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration in working on anti-flood measures for those living in Don Mueang. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-06-17

[saltandpepper]

sour grapes?

[OzMick]

Yingluk said rice scam not a big loss. She tells lies.

[mrtoad]

Yingluck looks like she is having some Xxxxluck.

I suppose she has to put a brave face on it, but the fact that sh states that "Pheu Thai’s pre-election activities were not coherent" , speak volumes of the clown clone.

[gl555]

Hahahaha that's face saving if I ever saw one! You're fooling no one, dearie.

[bigbamboo]

I would say a 10000 vote swing to the opposition is a massive loss.

But then again I would say a 260billion baht loss is massive too. So what do I know.

[winstonc]

losing a seat after 37 years is huge ,,like when t,blair got in and tory strongholds went by the way,,it was massive maybe different countries but still something to chew over,,,,,,,

[mrtoad]

They should be very concerned, maybe the electorate is starting figure out that "The Con is on".

[jcb2001]

Why should Yingluck worry? She is only the PM in name only. She has no responsibility to the gov't as her brother is in the real hot seat. Pheu Thai is rapidly dissolving.

[NongKhaiKid]

Pre-election activities not coherent is code for " over confident ". This constituency has been described as a red stronghold in Bangkok so they probably thought all they had to do was stick a name on the ballot and then count their majority.

Ooops !

[Wavefloater]

I can only assume that Thaksin told her to play this down. Actually, I'm convinced that he probably tells her what to wear and eat, as well.

I can believe that Yingluck is likely too dense to understand that it's probably very significant, by-election or not, but Thaksin must realize that when you dominate a constituency for 37 years and then lose it, a message is clearly being sent. Perhaps the populist actions (rice scam, automobile tax credits, etc,) hasn't benefited people in that riding very much, and they're starting to see just how harmful these programs will be to Thailand in the long run.

Once again, the stuff that Thai politicians say amazes me. They're <deleted>' shameless!!!

Edited June 17, 2013 by Wavefloater

[Chrisswe]

Yes Democrats are good at Entertainment ! But that's all ! they are all Movistars more or less the hole party !!

[OzMick]

In another thread Whybother pointed out that PTP candidate Yuranant quit his party list seat to contest DM. What a turkey!

[MikeOboe57]

Yes Democrats are good at Entertainment ! But that's all ! they are all Movistars more or less the hole party !!

I'm sure you agree that Yingluck playing a Prime Minister in the Great Thai Soap Opera is worth a raspberry.

[billd766]

They all look to me as they have dropped a 1,000 baht note and only found a 25 satang piece.

[scorecard]

Hahahaha that's face saving if I ever saw one! You're fooling no one, dearie.

In fact there's a good possibility her words will be seen by the locals as 'we (PT) don't really care all that much about Don Muang'.

[scorecard]

And just a few hours ago her minder said she would not be making any statements about the result.

Perhaps someone quickly pointed out to her, and her minder, that 'no statement' was not appropriate, not on, was arrogant, insincere, and lacking in values, whatever the result / reasons are.

[ramrod711]

Pheu Thai’s pre-election activities were not coherent.

Their post election activities haven't been very clever either, appears as if Chalerm drew out the plan after a skin full of ear medicine.

[Neilly]

PM says losing 37 year Don Mueang constituency 'not a big loss'

I think

[waza]

Well that will give Thaksin pause, he is not in total control and has been shown again to be vulnerable to people power. His agenda of amnesty, continuing his rice scam gold mine, constitutional change and a 2.2 trillion baht loan could all be in peril. The loyalty of PTP party list members are a given, but the elected members and coalitions partners may desert the ship if the going get rougher. Like I have always said you don't need to beat Thaksin , just give him enough rope.

[rubl]

I'm amazed to hear Pheu Thai party list MP #1 complain about the party's incoherent pre-election activities. Doesn't she know as simple member she's not supposed to critisize the party? Even the 'only 18 days to campaign' is an implicit snub as surely the party needed time to select the right MP for DM to elect.

BTW it's interesting to notice that the election of a constituency MP differs whether it's in a general election or a by-election. The view on this probably also depends on who wins. Public works are not part of an election by-the-way, but our PM probably meant that the voters voted for a candidate who thought and cared for the voters. Must be a slip of the tongue, this insult to the voters.

[rubl]

Hahahaha that's face saving if I ever saw one! You're fooling no one, dearie.

In fact there's a good possibility her words will be seen by the locals as 'we (PT) don't really care all that much about Don Muang'.

Oh, but we do care. We even gave them some froggies to play with in the water

[swifty5x5]

I think the only thing her statement has done is to end the 37 year old constituency voting practices forever. I know after that statement I would never vote for her party again.

Edited June 17, 2013 by swifty5x5

[A Member]

I can only assume that Thaksin told her to play this down. Actually, I'm convinced that he probably tells her what to wear and eat, as well.

I can believe that Yingluck is likely too dense to understand that it's probably very significant, by-election or not, but Thaksin must realize that when you dominate a constituency for 37 years and then lose it, a message is clearly being sent. Perhaps the populist actions (rice scam, automobile tax credits, etc,) hasn't benefited people in that riding very much, and they're starting to see just how harmful these programs will be to Thailand in the long run.

Once again, the stuff that Thai politicians say amazes me. They're <deleted>' shameless!!!

The more I see and hear from her the more convinced I am that she's not even capable of being a puppet

[jalansanitwong]

She lost a blue ribbon seat thats almost as old as herself and its not significant?

These people lie and they dont even know theyre doing it.

Looks like the Thai tanic has hit the iceberg.

[A Member]

I'm amazed to hear Pheu Thai party list MP #1 complain about the party's incoherent pre-election activities. Doesn't she know as simple member she's not supposed to critisize the party? Even the 'only 18 days to campaign' is an implicit snub as surely the party needed time to select the right MP for DM to elect.

BTW it's interesting to notice that the election of a constituency MP differs whether it's in a general election or a by-election. The view on this probably also depends on who wins. Public works are not part of an election by-the-way, but our PM probably meant that the voters voted for a candidate who thought and cared for the voters. Must be a slip of the tongue, this insult to the voters.

She obviously can't think on her feet or should that be shortened to just " can't think " ?

Even with prepared texts she makes it look as if she doesn't have a clue what she's saying and probably doesn't.

[ratcatcher]

Yes Democrats are good at Entertainment ! But that's all ! they are all Movistars more or less the hole party !!

That's the sort of response we have come to expect from you.

Yuranunt (Sam) Pamornmontri is a well known semi-retired "actor" and pretty boy (not bad for 50) in Thai dramas (soaps) and movies. He's probably a very nice man. Just got in with the wrong crowd.

His opponent Tankhun Chitt-isara deserved to win because the residents of the riding recognized the assistance he had given during the flooding and the work he has done behind the scenes.

This was a massive loss of "face" for PTP, but as Yingluck said in as many words "Not a big loss" . "Mai bpen rai". That went down with the constituents quite well I guess.

I doubt that you will find many 'movie stars' among the Democrats, but you will find a bunch of clowns entertaining the Thais at the Puea Thai Circus.

As for your reference to "the hole party" That might be the new name for the government since they are digging this nation into the biggest hole in Thailand's history.

Edited June 17, 2013 by ratcatcher

[greg71]

Edited June 17, 2013 by greg71

[culicine]

I think the only thing her statement has done is to end the 37 year old constituency voting practices forever. I know after that statement I would never vote for her party again.

Yes, the results is not significant because DonMuang is insignificant. She really needs to put a sock in it...

[ballpoint]

I think the only thing her statement has done is to end the 37 year old constituency voting practices forever. I know after that statement I would never vote for her party again.

Exactly, what a great PR statement. No great loss indeed.