Jump to content
reader

Police, military prepare for mass protests if Pita’s bid to be PM is thwarted

Recommended Posts

From The Nation

The armed forces and the Royal Thai Police are discussing security measures to implement if turmoil and violence erupts should Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat fail to be elected prime minister in the middle of next month, military and police sources said.

They said the armed forces and police fear that supporters of Move Forward and its major coalition party, Pheu Thai, may stage violent protests if the Move Forward-led coalition of 313 MPs fails to win support from 63 senators or MPs from other parties to elect Pita as the next prime minister of Thailand.

The coalition needs 63 more votes from either senators or MPs, or a combination of both, when the House and Senate convene for a joint session to elect Thailand’s 30th prime minister.

Pita will need a majority of the votes from 750 MPs and senators to be elected prime minister.

The joint session will likely convene July 13, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam. told a June 20 meeting of the caretaker Cabinet.

The 500 newly-elected MPs will be sworn in at a state ceremony on July 3, according to a royal decree.

The 500 newly-elected MPs will be sworn in at a state ceremony on July 3, according to a royal decree.

House of Representatives secretary-general Pornpit Phetcharoen said on Saturday that after the July 3 ceremony was held on July 3, the House may convene its first meeting on July 4 so that MPs can elect the House speaker and two deputy speakers.

Pornpit said most political parties had agreed to convene the House meeting at 9.30am on July 4 to elect the House speaker, but two or three political parties had yet to confirm the time and date.

After the House speaker is elected, a joint session of the two chambers must be held within 10 days to elect the prime minister.

Pita’s supporters are still keeping their fingers crossed for support from senators.

Several senators have vowed not to vote for Pita as the next prime minister, saying his party is opposed to Article 112 (the lese majeste law).

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 minutes ago, vinapu said:

drink more water so you don't choke on all that propaganda

Go tick more boxes... It's really making a difference. 

Ukraine - Just cancelled democracy. There is a US proxy war on you know? You can't vote!!!
Canada - Comrade Trudeua - 33% of the electorate
USA - well. Let's not get started. Put the rotten troglodyte in a care home already. 
UK - Unelected banker, criminal, tax dodger. 
New Zealand - Well, at least the horse is gone. WEF scum. 

I could go on all day....

Go tick boxes mate :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For those who’ll be in Bangkok on or about July 4, you may or may not live in interesting times. A key man in the outgoing ruling party is denying rumors he met in London to broker a deal with former pm Thaksin Shinawarts. Leaders of the runner-up Pheu Thai party are insisting on the House speakership while Move Forward Party’s Kuhn Pita bides his time while the current PM contends he could yet another term.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have seen some speculation - I think from Andrew MacGregor Marshall - that it might be smart for MF to allow themselves to get squeezed out this time so they can win an overwhelming majority next election. I think that presumes a new constitution being drawn up to get rid of all those military-aligned Senate seats i the meantime.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 hours ago, fedssocr said:

I have seen some speculation - I think from Andrew MacGregor Marshall - that it might be smart for MF to allow themselves to get squeezed out this time so they can win an overwhelming majority next election. I think that presumes a new constitution being drawn up to get rid of all those military-aligned Senate seats i the meantime.

How many times does the will of the people have to be ignored? The 2019 election is now widely regarded as unfree and unfair. Human Rights Watch cited political repression, media censorship, unequal media access, the role of a military-appointed Senate in appointing an unelected prime minister (the junta leader), and lack of independence and impartiality of the Election Commission as factors preventing a free and fair election. Having been permitted to stand as an official political party by the Election Commission, Future Forward gained 81 seats in the new parliament. That same Constitutional Court, a branch of the elite, ruled in February 2020 that it was after all unconstitutional and was ordered dissolved.

Move Forward is essentially the new Future Forward. Although it gained the largest number of votes, the fact that a record 75.22% of eligible voters took part in the election illustrates how fed up the country is with the stalemate of the last few years. In how many countries do so many electors turn out to vote unless voting is mandatory? That's more than in the USA and the UK. If the army and the elite succeed as Andrew MacGregor Marshall suggests and MF allows itself to be suqeezed out this time, the Army will find ways of again redrawing constituency boundaries and perhaps even altering the constitution to ensure MF is squeezed out of existence to ensure it will win both the most recent and the next election. At some point the people have to take a stand.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

From Thai PBS World

Pheu Thai concedes House speakership, promises to stick with Move Forward

The Pheu Thai party has reportedly conceded the House speakership to Move Forward, which will stay in the coalition, even if Pita Limjaroenrat, the Move Forward prime ministerial candidate, does not receive enough parliamentary votes to become the prime minister.

Sources told Thai PBS that, if Pita fails to take the premiership, Pheu Thai will lead the government, with Move Forward promising to stay in the coalition to form the administration.

With members of both parties exchanging heated opinions on the House speakership for days, Pheu Thai and Move Forward have agreed that their members should no longer voice their opinions on the matter publicly since it might affect the talks among 8 coalition partners, scheduled to take place this Sunday, July 2nd.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

47 minutes ago, reader said:

It’s close to impossible to encapsulate the current state of developments in the case of who becomes next prime minister but the Thai Enquirer makes a worthy effort this morning

A worthy effort indeed. The article dealing with the political situation illustrates just how well the army generals did in the last constitution to ensure the longevity of their own position and to deny the will of the people. The comments from two of the army appointed senators (all 250 are army appointed) are utterly disgraceful. The attempts to disqualify Pita from the Premiership on the basis of ancient (in parlimentary terms) ownership of shares in a media company is appalling and shows just how far into the sewer the elite will go to ensure they stay in power. Did not Thaksin senior own a massive number of shares in his own media company? And did he not bribe the Constitutional Court to ensure he was elected Prime Minister when he should never have been allowed to assume the post after his gardener and housekeeper were found to own millions of those shares?

I think someone posted this Tom Lehrer song relatively recently. It deserves a second airing, the more so when you substitute Thailand for Amerca and corruption for pollution.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 7/10/2023 at 5:12 AM, PeterRS said:

A worthy effort indeed. The article dealing with the political situation illustrates just how well the army generals did in the last constitution to ensure the longevity of their own position and to deny the will of the people. The comments from two of the army appointed senators (all 250 are army appointed) are utterly disgraceful. The attempts to disqualify Pita from the Premiership on the basis of ancient (in parlimentary terms) ownership of shares in a media company is appalling and shows just how far into the sewer the elite will go to ensure they stay in power. Did not Thaksin senior own a massive number of shares in his own media company? And did he not bribe the Constitutional Court to ensure he was elected Prime Minister when he should never have been allowed to assume the post after his gardener and housekeeper were found to own millions of those shares?

I think someone posted this Tom Lehrer song relatively recently. It deserves a second airing, the more so when you substitute Thailand for Amerca and corruption for pollution.

 

Tom Lehrer never dates, still on the point. I was privileged to see him live in London, in 1969. Something I'll never forget,!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

EC and Constitution Court are moving ahead with disqualifying Pita. Seems like a perfect way to accelerate the thing they are trying to prevent

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/charter-court-accepts-petition-against-move-forward-over-lese-majeste-policy-2/

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/pita-complains-of-unfair-treatment-by-the-election-commission/

Link to comment
Share on other sites

From Thai PBS World

Gridlock likely Friday evening as Pita supporters rally in downtown Bangkok

Police are asking the public to avoid the area around the Bangkok Arts and Culture Centre in Bangkok’s Pathumwan district, where supporters of the Move Forward party will hold a rally this evening (Friday) in protest over party leader Pita Limjaroenrat’s failure to become prime minister.

They blame Pita’s loss on the Senate, who harshly criticised Pita and Move Forward on Thursday for insisting that the country’s lèse majesté law must be amended.

The rally will start at 6pm. Police say that the public and motorists should avoid the approaches to Pathumwan intersection, near which the Arts Centre is located.

The rally is being held in downtown Bangkok during Friday evening rush hour, so the already heavy traffic is expected to worsen.

Police advise people to avoid Rama I Road (from Chalermpao-Charoen Pon intersections) and Phaya Thai Road (from Ratchathewi-Chula 12 intersections)

Motorists can use Phetchaburi, Bantadthong, Rama 4, Henri Dunant and Wireless roads instead.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



×
×
  • Create New...