Acting Thai Senate President ready to nominate a neutral PM

[Thailand]

From the BBC just now "Military leader General Prayuth Chan-Ocha - who has appointed himself the new prime minister - said troops were taking power "in order for the country to return to normal quickly"".

Can anyone confirm this or is just Jonathan Head off on his normal tangent i.e., not letting the truth to stand in the way of a good story. Maybe the BBC is just re-cycling news.

My money is on Suthep.

He let us out of this crisis.

In to the crisis I believe.

[joshstiles]

Hopefully in the not too distant future, Thailand can have a leader that loves Thailand and it's people, who's fair hand plays a fair hand to all, and that the only thing on the agenda is Thailand's growth and stability. Do not say it is impossible. It just needs a leader to show the way, have true belief and compassion, and a true desire to see Thailand prosper. Not prosper for his or her own gain, but for the whole country and its people to prosper, and gain the respect of the international community as a whole. The next steps taken are of the highest importance for Thailand in the eyes of the world, and for the good of the country. A proud nation does not want to be the laughing stock of the global community. Now is the time someone may just stand up and do it.

President of the Optimist Club....well said, ah but perhaps you need a reality check. We don't live in the clouds and the best prediction of future behavior / happenings are past behaviors.... Does thailand's past show a lot of optimism? As for people standing up....1000's stand up every day for change....but they don't have any money and lack any 'connections'. And if one person with money were to stand up and truly have thailand's best interest at heart....well....in the past this man was nailed to the cross.

Whilst I and I suspect most readers agree with your sentiment, firstly the Thais would have to know what the global community was and then they'd have to care about how it viewed them. Education - Education - Education might get them to know about it but to care about what it thought of them they'd have to be part of it, they'd have to see themselves other than Thais, as international people of the world - that's a big one for them - 'you can take the girl out of Thailand but you can't take Thailand out of the girl'. (here for Thailand can be substituted 'the bar'). A proud nation they are, in my view & the Thais in it - proud to be Thai - I've seen no evidence though (in my ten years here) of the Thais wanting to be proud of being a part of the (IMHO at best dubious, at worst fictitious) international community of which you speak.

[DirtFarmer]

I think it's gonna be another old army general someone who knows how to toe the line...and will not be a threat to the Good Generals retirement..and then maybe two years down the road..elections...? gee what a novel Idea..but maybe not.... maybe these amorphous reforms.... once started will drag on and on and on.. certainly the ones focused on corruption will take decades but hopefully this new PM is not a crony,,, not one of the pack not one tied to the Constitutional Court Judges Or the NACC or the Privy Council or the Election Commision...er what..? sorry I dozed off... must have been dreaming again ...

[JRSoul]

I think it's gonna be another old army general someone who knows how to toe the line...and will not be a threat to the Good Generals retirement..and then maybe two years down the road..elections...? gee what a novel Idea..but maybe not.... maybe these amorphous reforms.... once started will drag on and on and on.. certainly the ones focused on corruption will take decades but hopefully this new PM is not a crony,,, not one of the pack not one tied to the Constitutional Court Judges Or the NACC or the Privy Council or the Election Commision...er what..? sorry I dozed off... must have been dreaming again ...

So who would you accept, a muslim rice farmer from Yala?

[DirtFarmer]

I think it's gonna be another old army general someone who knows how to toe the line...and will not be a threat to the Good Generals retirement..and then maybe two years down the road..elections...? gee what a novel Idea..but maybe not.... maybe these amorphous reforms.... once started will drag on and on and on.. certainly the ones focused on corruption will take decades but hopefully this new PM is not a crony,,, not one of the pack not one tied to the Constitutional Court Judges Or the NACC or the Privy Council or the Election Commision...er what..? sorry I dozed off... must have been dreaming again ...

So who would you accept, a muslim rice farmer from Yala?

LOL ! A little levity goes a long way... we gonna have to wait and see

(outta likes but like!)

Edited May 23, 2014 by DirtFarmer

[Baerboxer]

Well, what a surprise. A junta allows unelected senators to choose a "neutral" PM. What a farce.

A pleasant change from a convicted criminal fugitive appointing one though.

[Thailand]

PM P

[issanaus]

I think that both sides are expecting the same outcome - one side fearing it and the othersider hoping for it.

The other outcome that I suspect is more likely is:

That there will be an appointed PM who will act in a neutral way. Its major tasks will be the preparation of the next budget and undertake activities to limit the damage to the economy. With a secondary role of providing a PM signature to facilitate election in some kind of compliance with the Charter.

That reforms will be limited to ensuring that there is a reasonably fair election and that after the elections the checks and balances in the Charter are not removed.

That there will be a push to get as many of the court case through the legal system so that politicians can either be convicted or clear their names.

That there will be an election in the next 6 months for a government with an agreed term of 1 to 2 years. Parallel with this will be a Charter review group to place suggested amendments to a referendum before the next full and normal election

[brufi]

I don't see a better alternative then the only national body that was set up according to the law to nominate an interim government to get things going again.

The term neutral can be disputed mainly on the fact that there is no common ground that is considered neutral enough between the dissenting parties and interest groups.

Thus to have someone be put on the chair by the seat may be not ideal but the best possible solution with a huge margin compared to any other possible solution.

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[brufi]

I don't see a better alternative then the only national body that was set up according to the law to nominate an interim government to get things going again.

The term neutral can be disputed mainly on the fact that there is no common ground that is considered neutral enough between the dissenting parties and interest groups.

Thus to have someone be put on the chair by the senat may be not ideal but the best possible solution with a huge margin compared to any other possible solution.

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[DavidBonnie]

If you seriously believe that what we are witnessing is NOT the result of a well planned strategy that has been rolling for 7 months in order to seize power from a democratically elected government then you are blind.

[Fookhaht]

I wonder if the threat of "detainment" produced this 24-hour miracle?

[Eric Loh]

If the neutral PM is Dr Kittipong Kittayarak, most will agree and Thailand will be safe. As long it is not Prawit or any other generals.

[Mudcrab]

Well, what a surprise. A junta allows unelected senators to choose a "neutral" PM. What a farce.

Do you seriously think this is a time for elections? Do you want the same crooks running the country? Without a PM the country can not function properly. So even a unelected one should be welcome until elections can be held and the constitution change so crooks like the PRDC and DEMS have can not control everything. In this case i beleive someone nuetral is better that just the army giving orders

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They have had 3 elections already and the same party won all 3 over the past 10 years, do you really think it is going to be any different when the next one is allowed ???

Maybe its time for them ot accept the peoples vote 3 TIMES ALREADY and the peoples vote means nothing

Democracy my A $ S

You need to understand the difference between democratically elected and democracy. A democracy means people are elected and are allowed to "rule" within the bounds of certain norms - usually referred to as a Constitution.

However people can also be elected democratically and not "rule" within the aforesaid norms - these are not ruling in a manner usually referred to as a in a democracy.

In my opinion a lot of Thais - even those of a Yellow flavour would be happy to have a Government with a Red leaning if it did in fact rule in a manner expected in a democracy, without the nepotism and corruption that the current Red brotherhood cannot seem to understand.

Put another way, a lot of people would accept a slightly left leaning party that were also reasonably trustworthy - call them socialist if you will if it means Thailand can move forwards.

However the the only left leaning option seems to be full on communism AKA the rabid redshirts plus the Thaksin corruption/fascism model.

Hopefully the good General will sort this out and possibly Suthep will see his much vaunted reforms (whatever they may be) before the next election and truly return power to the normal Thai person.

[Thailand]

If the neutral PM is Dr Kittipong Kittayarak, most will agree and Thailand will be safe. As long it is not Prawit or any other generals.

The "neutral" general has appointed himself.

[MILT]

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A welcome development indeed. There was a stalemate in the country on a scale wholly unprecedented. It was going nowhere. It was all tangled up in knots. But that has changed. Completely. The rallies have stopped. There is peace on the streets of Bangkok. The violence, grenade attacks - all of that has ceased. The fiery speeches have ceased. Seven months of street protests have come to an end. The Senate, independent agencies, and the courts are fully functioning, and are operating safely and without intimidation for the first time in ages. And now a truly functional interim administration will be put in place, as opposed to the profoundly dysfunctional one that was the defining characteristic of the Yingluck administration. The Senate has been clear that they will choose someone acceptable to both sides. They are earnest in that. A bureaucratic administration will likely ensue. And then the process of talks will continue. Interim means, of course, interim - temporary. The goal of working towards a general election with a package of reforms that is the result of the pooled efforts and consensus of all parties will likely remain the primary goal. The Thaksin strings have been cut. What remains is much hope and a chance for a fresh start. It's as hopeful an outcome as one could have hoped.

Well Put Scamper!

[crazykopite]

Millions of Thais went to the polls and voted in a democratic Government so why have they been denied the Government they elected.

[Fat Haggis]

Still don't see the General as a Politician then scamper?

[harrry]

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Further More Australia is "gravely concerned" about Thai coup.

Thailand has equaled Australia's impressive performance of 3 Prime Ministers in as many months established in 2013.

It's a neck and neck race for the fourth PM After Thailand defeating Australia in the volley ball this week Australia is gravely concerned

about Thailand appointing it's next PM before Australia and thus taking the lead.

However PM Abbott is within a wink of the lead and maybe ousted by his party very soon after numerous corruption scandals and a disastrous

budget. Abbott has firmed in the betting today after Thailand's new PM arrested all opposition.

Thailand and Australia are even in the betting after Surachai's announcement.

However the military was not involved in Australian politics in any way , therein lies the problem here , much better reforms on its way

That maybe so, however Aust has reasonably honest dedicated politicians and don't require military intervention to sort out the mess.

$60000 undeclared "scholarship" for Aust PMs daughter honest?

[Acharn]

Well, what a surprise. A junta allows unelected senators to choose a "neutral" PM. What a farce.

Do you seriously think this is a time for elections? Do you want the same crooks running the country? Without a PM the country can not function properly. So even a unelected one should be welcome until elections can be held and the constitution change so crooks like the PRDC and DEMS have can not control everything. In this case i beleive someone nuetral is better that just the army giving orders

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I see. So you fear that unless an unpopular royalist administration is imposed on the people against their will, they will once more elect the people you hate. Have I summed it up correctly? What sort of person do you think the unelected Senators will think is "neutral?"

[kimamey]

Senate Speaker: "Esteemed colleagues. After due consideration I wish to nominate Mickey Mouse as neutral Prime Minister. The cabinet will include Bugs Bunny as Labor Minister, Yosemite Sam as Finance minister, Donald Duck as Interior Minister and Minnie Mouse as Deputy Prime Minister."

Mutterings in the gallery include "Can't be worse than the last lot", "About time we had a real government", "Brilliant, since Minnie and Mickey divorced, no nepotism there", "The good old days are here again," and "Now the lower class will really have a voice."

Senate Speaker: "I call for a vote and second the motion. The ayes have it, with none opposed."

Sounds OK on the face of it but it'll all fall apart in spectacular fashion when the holders of the copyright on these characters demand royalty payments for the stolen intellectual property rights.

[rebelplatoon]

Only thing that CAN be done now. Hope they ll find a suitable person. Its just for a year. Someone who can help to seriously and honestly bridge the divide.

[kimamey]

Millions of Thais went to the polls and voted in a democratic Government so why have they been denied the Government they elected.

One of the problems might be that the one pulling the strings wasn't elected. Don't forget the 2011 election results were abided by it was only later when the constant obsession with an amnesty for Thaksin finally annoyed both sides that things went wrong. There's also a feeling among many that the last government were lying about the losses on the rice scheme.

They can have a government made up of candidates that can be voted for as happens in other democracies around the world. The reason for this is because whoever is elected and forms a government has to represent all the citizens not just those who voted for them and those who voted for the parties that lost have to accept the elected government as their government. It's not normal to then have as part of the government a criminal who lives outside the jurisdiction of the courts of that country.

[saakura]

Suthep will be nade PM and the monk in place of Chalerm.

[Fat Haggis]

You've more chance of being made Prime Minister than Suthep has, the country would erupt if that were to happen, and I doubt the General is that stupid, beside Suthep has already stated that after the final battle he will step away from the lime light, and not get involved, well the General cancelled that final battle, so there's no need for Suthep anymore, his protesting days are over, it's brandy and slipper time for him.

[surangw]

neutral, or politically neutered ?

[jimbeam1]

Well, what a surprise. A junta allows unelected senators to choose a "neutral" PM. What a farce.

Do you seriously think this is a time for elections? Do you want the same crooks running the country? Without a PM the country can not function properly. So even a unelected one should be welcome until elections can be held and the constitution change so crooks like the PRDC and DEMS have can not control everything. In this case i beleive someone nuetral is better that just the army giving orders

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And do you seriously believe that such a PM would be neutral, keeping in mind Dr Seri's announcement in Chicago that evething will be ok because the acting speaker is "on our side" ?:. You can't be that naiive

How can a Prime Minister be neutral. To be a Minister he must belong to a party. TIT

jb1

[Puccini]

Well, what a surprise. A junta allows unelected senators to choose a "neutral" PM. What a farce.

Prbkk, how did the senators get to members of the Senate?

Edited May 23, 2014 by Puccini

[Fat Haggis]

I believe the Military put them there after the last coup, I'm sure someone with a bit more knowledge will answer you with more detail.

[Colonel_Mustard]

That didn't pan out quite as the senators thought.