Voter power will trump junta senators in choosing next prime minister: Abhisit

[webfact]

Voter power will trump junta senators in choosing next prime minister: Abhisit
By KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN 
THE NATION 

 

File photo: Abhisit

 

BANGKOK: -- DEMOCRAT PARTY leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has warned non-elected prime ministers against relying on the 250 junta-selected senators for support in the future, saying that the appointees would prove helpless against the strong will of voters, which will be expressed in the election.

 

Abhisit, a former prime minister, said the possibility that a non-MP could take the government’s top job was provided for in the new constitution, but it could take place only after people had made their decision in the national polls.

 

“More importantly, even though the 250 [junta-selected senators] could designate a prime minister, they cannot vote in censure debates,” the Democrat leader said in a year-end press briefing.

 

The Democrat leader’s remarks came as the organic law on political parties is starting to take shape. In line with the recently approved constitution, the law sets tough rules and regulations governing political parties. 

 

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30303310

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-01-03

[klauskunkel]

Quote

DEMOCRAT PARTY leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has warned non-elected prime ministers against relying...

 

He must have forgot that he himself is a member of the Non-elected Prime Minister Club.

[Srikcir]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

they cannot vote in censure debates,

Sounds like another law needs passage by the junta-appointed NLA prior to elections.

Thanks for the notice Abhisit.

[yellowboat]

1 hour ago, klauskunkel said:

 

He must have forgot that he himself is a member of the Non-elected Prime Minister Club.

Yeah, between he and the junta, it is hard to figure which is more delusional .   At least he pays lip service to elections, until he loses.   Thailand does not have any great leadership at this time.  It will remain rudderless for years.

[bikerbri]

A man of very little substance. The Junta needs a front man and this man knows the ropes.

[Sphere]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

...the strong will of voters...

 

 

The irony.....

 

 

[Reigntax]

It almost like he believes an election will take place sometime in the next decade and he is unaware of how the current self appointed PM came to power

[gamini]

3 hours ago, klauskunkel said:

 

He must have forgot that he himself is a member of the Non-elected Prime Minister Club.

Abhisit was elected democratically in exactly the same way as many previous Thai Prime Minister's. He got majority support in Parliament of democratically elected MPs. Of course the PTP claimed that the army had interfered because they were poor losers. The only other candidate for prime minister was a policeman.  He didn't need any support of the army. You should get your facts straight before posting on subjects you know nothing about.

[elgordo38]

Trump Lite

[elgordo38]

Looks like the electioneering has already started. I did not hear the starting gun?

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

1 hour ago, gamini said:

Abhisit was elected democratically in exactly the same way as many previous Thai Prime Minister's. He got majority support in Parliament of democratically elected MPs. Of course the PTP claimed that the army had interfered because they were poor losers. The only other candidate for prime minister was a policeman.  He didn't need any support of the army. You should get your facts straight before posting on subjects you know nothing about.

555 There was the 2006 military coup and the 2008 judicial coup. Even after the military coup AV couldn't win the election and the judicial coup was needed to bring him to power by banning opponents. The CONSTITUTION WAS EVEN CHANGED TO ALLOW HIM TO GET TO POWER. He was a lame duck PM and maybe an honest person but he is a clueless politician and the leader of 18th century style political party.

[candide]

36 minutes ago, SOUTHERNSTAR said:

555 There was the 2006 military coup and the 2008 judicial coup. Even after the military coup AV couldn't win the election and the judicial coup was needed to bring him to power by banning opponents. The CONSTITUTION WAS EVEN CHANGED TO ALLOW HIM TO GET TO POWER. He was a lame duck PM and maybe an honest person but he is a clueless politician and the leader of 18th century style political party.

Additional details here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/thailand/3831672/Thai-army-to-help-voters-love-the-government.html

[ib1b4]

On ‎3‎/‎01‎/‎2017 at 1:10 PM, gamini said:

Abhisit was elected democratically in exactly the same way as many previous Thai Prime Minister's. He got majority support in Parliament of democratically elected MPs. Of course the PTP claimed that the army had interfered because they were poor losers. The only other candidate for prime minister was a policeman.  He didn't need any support of the army. You should get your facts straight before posting on subjects you know nothing about.

You are correct on the FACT that he got majority support in parliament ! But that only happened because 61 red  MP's were paid between 35 to 50 million baht each for that vote. Let alone the amount paid to a well known politician and his party around Buriram .

[debate101]

On 3/1/2560 at 3:34 PM, candide said:

Additional details here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/thailand/3831672/Thai-army-to-help-voters-love-the-government.html

Thanks. Always good to jog the old memory...

[Basil B]

On 03/01/2017 at 2:29 AM, klauskunkel said:

 

He must have forgot that he himself is a member of the Non-elected Prime Minister Club.

 

Quote

After Somchai was removed and the PPP dissolved, the MPs of the parties which had been in coalition with the PPP forged a new coalition with the Democrat Party, which had been in opposition until then. Most of the defectors were MPs from the Friends of Newin faction of the PPP, as well as the Bhumjaithai Party, the Puea Pandin Party, the Chartthaipattana Party, and the Rum Chart Pattana Party. The defection of the powerful Friends of Newin Group came about due to the alleged coercion by Army Commander General Anupong Paochinda, a move that Senator Khamnoon Sitthisamarn called an "Anupong-style coup. The Democrat-led coalition was able to endorse Abhisit as Prime Minister. Abhisit became Prime Minister after winning a vote in parliament on 15 December 2008.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abhisit_Vejjajiva

 

As far as I know the electors vote for parties and MP's, it is the Parties who chose the PM... not the electorate so those who keep bleating on about some PM's not being elected is total rubbish as no PM has been voted PM directly by the Electorate.

As the PPP needed to form a coalition with some small parties which it did in order to carry a majority and chose a PM, AFAIK none of those parties  made it an election pledge which party(s) they would support if they were invited to join a coalition so they had every right to change their allegiance mid government which they did in 2008, not surprising that the PPP had been dissolved for vote buying which is very undemocratic.  

[debate101]

5 hours ago, Basil B said:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abhisit_Vejjajiva

 

As far as I know the electors vote for parties and MP's, it is the Parties who chose the PM... not the electorate so those who keep bleating on about some PM's not being elected is total rubbish as no PM has been voted PM directly by the Electorate.

As the PPP needed to form a coalition with some small parties which it did in order to carry a majority and chose a PM, AFAIK none of those parties  made it an election pledge which party(s) they would support if they were invited to join a coalition so they had every right to change their allegiance mid government which they did in 2008, not surprising that the PPP had been dissolved for vote buying which is very undemocratic.  

 

Except that all parties participated in "vote buying," but of course, only one was disbanded by the courts. ("Vote-buying" here means voters receive money from each eligible candidate in their area, even though they can only vote for one.)

 

This was to solve the crisis of the PAD storming the international airport, remember. Rather than forcing them to conduct their demonstrations elsewhere and wait for the next election, their preferred party was given de-facto control of the legislature, and then Abhisit neglected to seek a democratic mandate for his premiership for three years.

[Raymonddiaz]

On 1/3/2017 at 9:29 AM, klauskunkel said:

 

He must have forgot that he himself is a member of the Non-elected Prime Minister Club.

He must regretted it  . Let's not judge him about the past. Let's focus in the future !!! 

[chainarong]

On ‎1‎/‎3‎/‎2017 at 0:52 PM, bikerbri said:

A man of very little substance. The Junta needs a front man and this man knows the ropes.

You'd know all about little substance bikerbri.

[chainarong]

It's interesting to note that the people may have away around the unelected PM issue , however I wouldn't rely on the voters , in the past they've shown to be completely silly, however Mark must have been sure of non interference through the political or process of law to announce these details otherwise , you'd  never with a junta , show your hand. ............................................................

[gamini]

On 1/4/2017 at 7:39 PM, ib1b4 said:

You are correct on the FACT that he got majority support in parliament ! But that only happened because 61 red  MP's were paid between 35 to 50 million baht each for that vote. Let alone the amount paid to a well known politician and his party around Buriram .

I love to know who paid all this money, it certainly wasn't Abhisit. I just don't believe it.  Who could possibly have come up with 5 billion baht?

[candide]

16 hours ago, chainarong said:

It's interesting to note that the people may have away around the unelected PM issue , however I wouldn't rely on the voters , in the past they've shown to be completely silly, however Mark must have been sure of non interference through the political or process of law to announce these details otherwise , you'd  never with a junta , show your hand. ............................................................

Well, he may well be the next PM thanks to the help of 250 unelected senators. He has been critical enough of the Junta to maintain a fiction of independence, while being fully compliant with the army and the other components of the dominant network .

[BSJ]

I think Abhisit has an honest face.....but like all politician's the world over he is, in all honestly, out for what he can get!   

 

The PM on the other hand has a 'poker face'.   One could say he has everything, but probably wants more....power, money that is.....

 

That's what it comes down to.....power, money.....irrespective of ones face.

 

The ordinary people of Thailand see it all and can do nothing about it.  They have no face or power or money!  

 

So they can have an election and the result will be:  Same old same old!