Caretaker PM Yingluck shuts option for neutral, non-elected premier

[webfact]

Caretaker PM Yingluck shuts option for neutral, non-elected premier
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Feb 8 – Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra asserted today that the law did not allow a non-MP to take the helm of the government, saying that the caretaker premier must stay in office after a House dissolution and until a new administration takes over the job.

Ms Yingluck was referring to a call by former deputy prime minister Pridiyathorn Devakula yesterday for a neutral person, and not politician, to lead the government given the months-long political and economic crises and the Yingluck government’s failure in the rice pledging scheme.

She said, “Not a single article in the law allows such a practice. In case a neutral prime minister is appointed, his power is not different from the caretaker premier.

“If (you) want a prime minister with full power, the only option is to tear up the Constitution. Whether tearing up the Constitution will be successful or not depends on the people. It’s up to the people if they want to preserve democracy but the election has shown that 20 million people exercising their voting rights to maintain democracy.”

Ms Yingluck gave assurances that the government would be responsible for overdue payments to farmers, saying that no government would ignore the problems and the people’s grievances but there are legal obstacles in assisting farmers.

All related agencies were instructed to urgently work despite restrictions and the Finance Ministry would find financial sources for borrowing while the Commerce Ministry will urgently release rice in stockpiles, she said.

She would not commit on when farmers would be paid but called on the public to sympathise with the farmers and avoid escalating the rice subsidies difficulties into a political issue which could disrupt payments to farmers.

Caretaker Deputy Agriculture Minister Varathep Ratanakorn said the government has not stopped paying farmers and money earned from selling rice has been transferred to the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC).

The BAAC is responsible for rice payments to farmers.

“Don’t obstruct the government or intimidate financial institutions and state officials if you really sympathise with farmers. Let everything move in accord with the process. The previous government also borrowed to pay farmers,” he said. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-02-08

[retsdon]

And who is going to appoint this 'neutral non-elected PM'?

[Publicus]

Pridiyathorn was a typically solid Thai central bank governor but now he's gone off the deep end of Thai politics and has slipped on his own banana peel.

As the Nation editorial board wrote on December 10th last year,

What is clear, however, is that another election is not what the Democrats or their fellow protesters want.

As things stand, the opposition has no chance of winning an election and replacing the so-called "Thaksin Shinawatra regime" in power.

Instead, it wants Yingluck to step down so it can install a "neutral" caretaker government that would rule in its favour. This would increase the opposition's chances of victory at the ballot box.

However, there is no clear legal provision for installing an interim government outside the electoral system. Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban and his legal advisers have suggested that, as head of state, His Majesty the King could apply Section 7 of the Constitution to allow for the appointment of a non-elected prime minister and caretaker government while a "people's council" drafts new rules for a new "game".

But Section 7 simply says: "Whenever no provision under this Constitution is applicable to any case, it shall be decided in accordance with the constitutional convention in the democratic regime of government with the King as Head of State." Suthep faces great difficulty in twisting this proviso to mean that His Majesty should choose someone for the top government job rather than the broad electorate. In 2006 the King decided he had no authority to do so in such a situation and deemed the notion undemocratic.

The charter stipulates that the "constitutional convention in the democratic regime of government" is to have an elected prime minister. Anything else would violate democratic norms. Of course, this country has a long history of non-elected premiers, but we only have to review the record of dictatorships over the years to see how disastrous they can be. Elections are still the best way to choose a leader - and the only way in a country that wishes to call itself democratic.

I would add that these Thai rightists and their fahalng boosters continue to flail away, this time resurrecting an issue that was made decidedly clear some months ago. They can't quit because they don't know how to quit, why they should quit, when to quit. They've looked ridiculous for a long time yet keep climbing to new heights of desperation.

Edited February 7, 2014 by Publicus

[whybother]

"In case a neutral Prime Minister is appointed, he will have the same powers as a care taker prime minister."

Is she saying a neutral PM can be appointed?

Sent from my phone ...

[LuckyLew]

of course she shut it, she knows very well first thing a new / neutral PM would do would be to investigate how much money the PTP looted from the Thai coffers. IMO she is fighting not for the PM job but for her freedom and the ability to stay in Thailand and not have to flee like her coward brother Thaksin

[ramrod711]

“If (you) want a prime minister with full power, the only option is to tear up the Constitution. Whether tearing up the Constitution will be successful or not depends on the people.

Yingluck as defender of the constitution, has hell frozen over? "my family wants peace, not power" Where is the money Yingluck?

[moonao]

Yingluck is not protecting her to her position for the sake of being in power, she is protecting the rule of law, the constitution, democracy and the will of the electorate against a cowardly and bullying opponent.

Thats why she has the support of the vast majority of Thai people and full international support. In the face of this crisis, she has shown more maturity and responsibility than the last 10 prime ministers combined.

[gerry1011]

And who is going to appoint this 'neutral non-elected PM'?

Suthep

Sent from my HTC One using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[whybother]

Yingluck is not protecting her to her position for the sake of being in power, she is protecting the rule of law, the constitution, democracy and the will of the electorate against a cowardly and bullying opponent.

Thats why she has the support of the vast majority of Thai people and full international support. In the face of this crisis, she has shown more maturity and responsibility than the last 10 prime ministers combined.

A vast majority? The latest poll (ie the election) had about 20% supporting her.

Besides that, if she really wants "peace not power", she would at least offer to stand down if she is so intent that she is not allowed to. That doesn't mean that Suthep would suddeny be in power. She could offer a compromise of her standing down but making sure power stays with PTP.

[retsdon]

Yingluck is not protecting her to her position for the sake of being in power, she is protecting the rule of law, the constitution, democracy and the will of the electorate against a cowardly and bullying opponent.

Thats why she has the support of the vast majority of Thai people and full international support. In the face of this crisis, she has shown more maturity and responsibility than the last 10 prime ministers combined.

A vast majority? The latest poll (ie the election) had about 20% supporting her.

Besides that, if she really wants "peace not power", she would at least offer to stand down if she is so intent that she is not allowed to. That doesn't mean that Suthep would suddeny be in power. She could offer a compromise of her standing down but making sure power stays with PTP.

She could offer a compromise of her standing down but making sure power stays with PTP.

So the Dems and Suthep would accept the election results then? Can't see that happening somehow.

[Thait Spot]

Yingluck is not protecting her to her position for the sake of being in power, she is protecting the rule of law, the constitution, democracy and the will of the electorate against a cowardly and bullying opponent.

Thats why she has the support of the vast majority of Thai people and full international support. In the face of this crisis, she has shown more maturity and responsibility than the last 10 prime ministers combined.

Rubbish.

What percentage voted for her?

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Thai at Heart]

If (you) want a prime minister with full power, the only option is to tear up the Constitution. Whether tearing up the Constitution will be successful or not depends on the people.

Yingluck as defender of the constitution, has hell frozen over? "my family wants peace, not power" Where is the money Yingluck?

If Suthep keeps going like this it will be "shinawatra, saviour of democracy".

What a thought

[whybother]

A vast majority? The latest poll (ie the election) had about 20% supporting her.

Besides that, if she really wants "peace not power", she would at least offer to stand down if she is so intent that she is not allowed to. That doesn't mean that Suthep would suddeny be in power. She could offer a compromise of her standing down but making sure power stays with PTP.

She could offer a compromise of her standing down but making sure power stays with PTP.

So the Dems and Suthep would accept the election results then? Can't see that happening somehow.

I would expect them to demand a new election, IF this one didn't get invalidated.

[alfalfa19]

of course she shut it, she knows very well first thing a new / neutral PM would do would be to investigate how much money the PTP looted from the Thai coffers. IMO she is fighting not for the PM job but for her freedom and the ability to stay in Thailand and not have to flee like her coward brother Thaksin

I believe she will end up fleeing thailand, just as her brother did. Speaking of him, it does not seem very manly for him to sit in dubai, letting his sister take all this heat.

[sixfiftysevenmember]

Yingluck is not protecting her to her position for the sake of being in power, she is protecting the rule of law, the constitution, democracy and the will of the electorate against a cowardly and bullying opponent.

Thats why she has the support of the vast majority of Thai people and full international support. In the face of this crisis, she has shown more maturity and responsibility than the last 10 prime ministers combined.

It is believed that about 20,000,000 people voted of which it is thought that PTP received less than 8,000,000 votes and yet you say 'the vast majority of Thai people support her' Join the real world and ditch the red tinted glasses!

[smedly]

so what happened to the April 1st deadline were she must step down and the mantle is passed to the senate to install a CTPM and administration

and 20 million people voting of which 12 million didn't vote for you dear lady and if you include those that didn't vote at all but could have that makes about 32 million that didn't vote for you - a clear message if ever there was one

[DirtFarmer]

Why on earth would she stand down...? To set the worst possible precedent ever...? To sanction blatant insurrection...? If she abandons the fragile Democracy which still actually keeps this place going.. it would be the worst thing possible... If a judicial coup is how the opposition intends to do this let it be so.. . it will be the worst outcome possible but is probably where they are loading the dice now... remember that most if not all that faces us now since the insurrection began is a direct result of the oppositions efforts. They had their chance within the government to use the rice scheme and failed Amnesty bill to proceed through legitimate/lawful means to use their billions for political out each with the Public and delegate consolidation and lobbying within the govt..instead they started throwing chairs, beating their chest and empowering a very un-balanced mind to lead the sheep into a mindless attempt at overthrowing an elected government,, and creating/re[lacing it with a circus that is laughable yet has taken lives from all walks of life.. Blue, yellow, red, pink, brown matters not.. crooks and troughies on all sides of the sty..what matters is that those who have been empowered by the people... maintain the duties they were charged with until such a time comes through a democratic process for a change... not at the whim of every tom. dick and harry just because they can't have a piece of the pie at the moment... if she were to stand down now it would give the green light for every wealthy corrupt iconic entity to follow the same path of insurrection to achieve the same outcomes...POWER GRAB... that is not reform.... that is giving the keys to the henhouse to a whole band of wolves.. reset...? Restart...? BUZZ WORDS ...progress is not the intention of the opposition.. they don't want a fully elected Parliament they don't want to be answerable to the people.. it is not in their interests to do so.. they don't want a dilution of wealth they don't want to share the responsibility of a collective voice... whether you like or dislike the sitting PM or not has no bearing on the entity of Democracy... it must be preserved.. and acquiescing to rogue, scoundrel and charlatans is not the way to go..it condones anarchy

[whybother]

Why on earth would she stand down...? To set the worst possible precedent ever...? To sanction blatant insurrection...? If she abandons the fragile Democracy which still actually keeps this place going.. it would be the worst thing possible... If a judicial coup is how the opposition intends to do this let it be so.. . it will be the worst outcome possible but is probably where they are loading the dice now... remember that most if not all that faces us now since the insurrection began is a direct result of the oppositions efforts. They had their chance within the government to use the rice scheme and failed Amnesty bill to proceed through legitimate/lawful means to use their billions for political out each with the Public and delegate consolidation and lobbying within the govt..instead they started throwing chairs, beating their chest and empowering a very un-balanced mind to lead the sheep into a mindless attempt at overthrowing an elected government,, and creating/re[lacing it with a circus that is laughable yet has taken lives from all walks of life.. Blue, yellow, red, pink, brown matters not.. crooks and troughies on all sides of the sty..what matters is that those who have been empowered by the people... maintain the duties they were charged with until such a time comes through a democratic process for a change... not at the whim of every tom. dick and harry just because they can't have a piece of the pie at the moment... if she were to stand down now it would give the green light for every wealthy corrupt iconic entity to follow the same path of insurrection to achieve the same outcomes...POWER GRAB... that is not reform.... that is giving the keys to the henhouse to a whole band of wolves.. reset...? Restart...? BUZZ WORDS ...progress is not the intention of the opposition.. they don't want a fully elected Parliament they don't want to be answerable to the people.. it is not in their interests to do so.. they don't want a dilution of wealth they don't want to share the responsibility of a collective voice... whether you like or dislike the sitting PM or not has no bearing on the entity of Democracy... it must be preserved.. and acquiescing to rogue, scoundrel and charlatans is not the way to go..it condones anarchy

It is because of her and her brother that this "democracy" is in such a fragile state.

[MMarlow]

And who is going to appoint this 'neutral non-elected PM'?

No-one is, you completely miss the point of the report. It is not an option.

[MaxLee]

“If (you) want a prime minister with full power, the only option is to tear up the Constitution. Whether tearing up the Constitution will be successful or not depends on the people. It’s up to the people if they want to preserve democracy but the election has shown that 20 million people exercising their voting rights to maintain democracy.”

Nope,... you gotta ask the army....

[Macrohistory]

of course she shut it, she knows very well first thing a new / neutral PM would do would be to investigate how much money the PTP looted from the Thai coffers. IMO she is fighting not for the PM job but for her freedom and the ability to stay in Thailand and not have to flee like her coward brother Thaksin

I believe she will end up fleeing thailand, just as her brother did. Speaking of him, it does not seem very manly for him to sit in dubai, letting his sister take all this heat.

I wish you were right, but I suspect that Thaksin's calculation is instead that his little sister should hang onto power until a constitutional crisis is provoked -- a crisis which would then give the military no choice (just as in 2006) but to stage a coup. Now that the gambit of bullheadedly going forward with the election has failed -- because voter turnout was so low, and so many people cast "no" votes or destroyed their ballots -- PT has lost the one potent political asset it could claim before: popular support. It is therefore now in crisis mode, and the only hope is to "throw a Hail Mary pass" (to use a metaphor from American football). What this desperate ploy will be, I suspect, is to force a deterioration in the situation by holding onto power no matter how many responsible voices join the chorus in earnestly insisting that the Thaksinistas are seriously injuring Thailand's economy, society, and political culture. Then when the military finally decides reluctantly that it must take the reins of power and toss Yingluck out, she will scream "coup, coup! Anti-democratic coup!" Because most foreigners are, naturally, unclear about the situation, they will be predisposed to sympathize with the pretty Thai prime minister. They won't have the time or the inclination to inquire into the far more complex political realities centering on Thaksin's deceitful stratagems.

The one thing you can absolutely count on is that neither Thaksin nor his agents will ever, for any reason, choose the decent route and do what's best for Thailand.

[pipkins]

Yingluck is not protecting her to her position for the sake of being in power, she is protecting the rule of law, the constitution, democracy and the will of the electorate against a cowardly and bullying opponent.

Thats why she has the support of the vast majority of Thai people and full international support. In the face of this crisis, she has shown more maturity and responsibility than the last 10 prime ministers combined.

A vast majority? The latest poll (ie the election) had about 20% supporting her.

Besides that, if she really wants "peace not power", she would at least offer to stand down if she is so intent that she is not allowed to. That doesn't mean that Suthep would suddeny be in power. She could offer a compromise of her standing down but making sure power stays with PTP.

Only way to read this.

Thailand is a Democracy and Yingluk an PT are standing by it and really are the Defenders of Democracy

That Suthep wants appointed Council means he is against the democratic system.

Bluster all you like guys, this is the case and this is how everybody outside PDRC and its fanclub see it.

As they blockaded the election and hijacked polling papers, it is impossible to say what the people want. Only one way to find out, but we can't as Suthep is blocking it.

Real election with full participation would mean more people voting. So save your statistics for your PDRC gatherings.

If only 8 million voted PT, that is 8 million more than voted for Suthep and the Dems. Fact.

I saw the poor turnout last night again. How long before he becomes a liablitly for his elite backers? Can't be long now

[Emptyset]

"In case a neutral Prime Minister is appointed, he will have the same powers as a care taker prime minister."

Is she saying a neutral PM can be appointed?

Sent from my phone ...

I think she's saying that even if there was a way to appoint a neutral PM, he'd be no more able to solve the rice problems than she is, given the borrowing limits under a caretaker govt.

[pipkins]

“If (you) want a prime minister with full power, the only option is to tear up the Constitution. Whether tearing up the Constitution will be successful or not depends on the people. It’s up to the people if they want to preserve democracy but the election has shown that 20 million people exercising their voting rights to maintain democracy.”

Nope,... you gotta ask the army....

The Army is too busy "ruling" the southern 3 provinces and presiding over daily bombings and killings. Bet they are glad they don't have to rule the rest of the country in this manner.

the Army coming in now is most unlikely as Suthep is down to his last few hundred followers. They only get rally in evening as they take the rally to the office workers in Asoke and Silom.

Contrast the Reds Rally. They were here in bigger numbers and a long way from their villages and still had many times more people in Lumpin than Suthep has now.

It would be good now for the Government if they did have a coup. It would allow the people to see the corruption and bumbling of the the Junta that we saw last time. Then.... Sooner rather than later. A real uprising of real people marching for democracy.

Millions of people have died fighting for their rights all over the world. That this attack against democracy is allowed to stay out there for so long is damaging Thailand internationally.

[whybother]

The Army is too busy "ruling" the southern 3 provinces and presiding over daily bombings and killings. Bet they are glad they don't have to rule the rest of the country in this manner.

the Army coming in now is most unlikely as Suthep is down to his last few hundred followers. They only get rally in evening as they take the rally to the office workers in Asoke and Silom.

Contrast the Reds Rally. They were here in bigger numbers and a long way from their villages and still had many times more people in Lumpin than Suthep has now.

It would be good now for the Government if they did have a coup. It would allow the people to see the corruption and bumbling of the the Junta that we saw last time. Then.... Sooner rather than later. A real uprising of real people marching for democracy.

Millions of people have died fighting for their rights all over the world. That this attack against democracy is allowed to stay out there for so long is damaging Thailand internationally.

The fact that there were a lot of red shirts "a long way from their villages" is a pretty simple explanation as to why the red shirts might have had more people during the day. Did you expect them to go home every night?

[Emptyset]

Yingluck is not protecting her to her position for the sake of being in power, she is protecting the rule of law, the constitution, democracy and the will of the electorate against a cowardly and bullying opponent.

Thats why she has the support of the vast majority of Thai people and full international support. In the face of this crisis, she has shown more maturity and responsibility than the last 10 prime ministers combined.

A vast majority? The latest poll (ie the election) had about 20% supporting her.

Besides that, if she really wants "peace not power", she would at least offer to stand down if she is so intent that she is not allowed to. That doesn't mean that Suthep would suddeny be in power. She could offer a compromise of her standing down but making sure power stays with PTP.

Maybe they should make that their condition then, instead of demanding they all step down for a People's Council to be installed. There's an issue of legality over Yingluck's resignation too but it's still somewhat more realistic/achievable than asking the government to step down to pave the way for the PC. Problem is, I think the only two that Thaksin would trust to be PM apart from YL is either Somchai or Pongthep. Neither are MPs so neither could take the position of PM under the caretaker govt.

But let's say it were possible: I still doubt they would make that a condition because how does it benefit them if, say, Pongthep was PM instead of Yingluck? Arguably it'd be worse. Because it'd mean that they lose their lightning rod - people have less reason to be angry with Pongthep since he wasn't PM. And he's not a Shinawatra despite apparently being pretty close to TS (in a way that, say, Chaturon isn't). Plus he'd probably be more competent, which isn't great for them either. It's hard to say, but I think such a move might benefit the govt more than it would PDRC. Although, then again, Yingluck is undoubtedly more popular in the N/NE than Pongthep or Somchai.

And if YL/Thaksin did agree and there were someone they considered suitable who is a current MP - how does that sit with PDRC/Abhisit's desire for reform? They keep saying the issue is reform, not who the PM is. They've even said after reforms, Yingluck could be PM again if she wins. So the way I see it, the move may be of some potential benefit to the govt - with little downside given Yingluck's performance* (tho I think she's actually been better since house dissolution) - yet it doesn't get the PDRC or Democrats what they want at all.

*Unless they were to go with someone like Chalerm, which I very much doubt would happen... but few people saw Samak coming either.

Edited February 8, 2014 by Emptyset

[Melyn]

"Thailand cannot have a non-elected leader" she states.

"It's not constitutional" she adds.

Well we've had your big brother fro Dubai doing it for 3 years.

To add to that, it should be unconstitutional for an unelected novice to be put at number one on the list to ensure that she gets selected and for the unconstitutional and unelected villain from Dubai to have the power to pressure "his" MPs to chose her as PM

Its also unconstitutional for a government to cheat and lie in the house.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[SamMunich]

Of course she refuses to stand down or anything in that direction,- her brother ordered here to refuse that.

He and likely she know pretty well, that this is the very last chance for him to get back into Thailand and into the driver's seat. If they loose this "game", then they are down and out forever. And even as the situation gets worse - with the farmers turning against the government - they will not give up. Bad thing is, this will worsen the plight of the farmers, because they need cash now and every day of delay is bad for them.

Interesting, by the way. how much silence comes from former TRT/PPP members, who used to be party bigwigs. I guess they have seen the writing on the wall and don't want to be flushed down and out together with the PTP folks of today.

Yingluck eventually will have to go, if no other way then by way of courts deciding against her, e.g. by impeachment etc.

[MaxLee]

Of course she refuses to stand down or anything in that direction,- her brother ordered here to refuse that.

He and likely she know pretty well, that this is the very last chance for him to get back into Thailand and into the driver's seat. If they loose this "game", then they are down and out forever. And even as the situation gets worse - with the farmers turning against the government - they will not give up. Bad thing is, this will worsen the plight of the farmers, because they need cash now and every day of delay is bad for them.

Interesting, by the way. how much silence comes from former TRT/PPP members, who used to be party bigwigs. I guess they have seen the writing on the wall and don't want to be flushed down and out together with the PTP folks of today.

Yingluck eventually will have to go, if no other way then by way of courts deciding against her, e.g. by impeachment etc.

Yep, stepping down and risk to lose face,... hell no...

But ironically in the age of social media and internet with easy access for information, you can't sell this generation AND the world for stupid anymore.

The whole world knows...

[Artisi]

of course she shut it, she knows very well first thing a new / neutral PM would do would be to investigate how much money the PTP looted from the Thai coffers. IMO she is fighting not for the PM job but for her freedom and the ability to stay in Thailand and not have to flee like her coward brother Thaksin

I believe she will end up fleeing thailand, just as her brother did. Speaking of him, it does not seem very manly for him to sit in dubai, letting his sister take all this heat.

Manly - hahahahahahahahahaha