Will the progressive Move Forward Party be disbanded?
That chance is high. The Constitutional Court recently ruled that the Move Forward Party's (MFP) push to reform Article 112 of the Criminal Code is an attempt to overthrow the constitutional monarchy. This could well lead to a ban on this party, which won a majority of 2023 seats in parliament in the 151 elections, but failed to form a government due to negative votes from the 150-member Senate appointed by the previous Prayut government. The Pheu Thai Party, with 141 seats in parliament, formed the government, previously an opponent but now part of the elite.
Time for some humor: Political jokes
The Pheu Thai Party's recent decision to collaborate with parties involved in the violent military crackdown on Red Shirt protesters in 2010 may have surprised many supporters of the movement. Yet the spirit of the movement is far from broken.
Srettha Thavisin, former president and CEO of real estate developer Sansiri Plc, was elected Thailand's 30th prime minister on Tuesday. The election took place in a joint assembly of MPs and Senators, winning an overwhelming majority of the vote. Thavisin is a prominent figure within the Pheu Thai party.
Column: The quasi-democracy of the elected prime minister
The complex and often mysterious process of choosing a prime minister in Thailand raises many questions from both a constitutional and a democratic perspective. While the Netherlands wrestled with the idea of a directly elected mayor, Thailand offers a fascinating look at the staged choice of a prime minister. The current procedure, as described in the Thai Constitution, has both supporters and opponents and raises questions about the true nature of democracy. In a world where political power games and personal interests often predominate, what does real democracy even mean? In this contemplative posting we dive deeper into this subject, based on both the Thai and Dutch experiences.
Vote for a new prime minister scheduled for August 22
A crucial vote will be held in Thailand's parliament on August 22 to appoint a new prime minister. This scheduled vote comes after a series of controversial events, including a decision by the Constitutional Court and a motion by Move Forward MP, Rangsiman Rome. House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, who set the date, faces complex legal and political issues that could affect the future of Thailand's political landscape.
Taxi drivers in Thailand have mobilized against the proposed coalition between the political parties Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai. This unexpected alliance, which took rather opposing views, has caused a stir among various groups. Protesters, who mainly identified themselves with the "red shirts," expressed their discontent at Pheu Thai's headquarters and symbolized their farewell with a striking gesture.
Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai team up to form a government
In the political landscape of Thailand, Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai make a remarkable move: they announce a partnership to form a new governing coalition. Together they have a considerable grip in the Chamber with 212 seats. While their ambition is clear to a majority, many questions and challenges remain. This cooperation has potentially far-reaching consequences for the future of Thai politics, in which coalitions and strategic partnerships are central.
Uncertainty over Pheu Thai's ability to form government after postponement of prime ministerial election
Thailand's upcoming prime ministerial vote has been postponed, raising uncertainty over Pheu Thai's attempt to form a new coalition government. The vote, originally scheduled for August 4, has been canceled as the Constitutional Court postponed its decision on whether the removal of Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat as prime minister was constitutional.
Move Forward party may want to join the opposition
Move Forward party general secretary Chaithawat Tulahon announced today (Wednesday) that his party is ready to join the opposition. During his announcement, he apologized to the party's followers for not being able to form a government.
Parliament in Thailand will try to elect a new prime minister on August 4 after two failed attempts
Thailand's parliament will try to elect a new prime minister next week after two previous failed attempts. This political deadlock, which has lasted for more than two months after the election, comes amid growing political unrest and possible lawsuits over the constitutionality of previous elections. All this is further complicated by the announced return of the controversial figure, Thaksin Shinawatra.
Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat has announced after eight party rallies that he will step down in favor of a political ally, the Pheu Thai Party, if he cannot garner significant additional support for a second round of the prime minister's election on July 19. He stated that the new target for votes should be 344-345.
The July 13 parliament session, which voted on Pita Limjaroenrat's candidacy as prime minister, became a platform for discussing possible amendments to Article 112 of the Penal Code, which concerns the monarchy. The majority of opposition members, senators and MPs from the former government coalition declared themselves as royalists. They accused the Move Forward party of seeking to undermine and dismantle the monarchy through proposals to amend Article 112.
Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of the Move Forward party, claimed today (Wednesday) that the Election Commission (EC) has treated him unfairly. This because of her decision to submit the iTV share case to the Constitutional Court for consideration, without giving him the chance to defend himself.
In today's NRC there is an article by Saskia Konniger about the political situation in Thailand: Is the military regime in Thailand relinquishing power? Konniger describes the current situation based on 4 questions.
Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of the Move Forward Party and winner of Thailand's parliamentary elections, thinks an agreement on the Speaker of the House could help him become prime minister. At a meeting of Thailand's new parliament, the two major parties, Move Forward and Pheu Thai, found a way to kick off the election for Speaker of the House of Representatives. They chose Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, the 79-year-old leader of the Prachachat party, to become the next Speaker of the House.
Investigation into opposition leader Pita again puts political relations in Thailand on edge
An investigation is being launched in Thailand into Pita Limjaroenrat, who recently won the elections with his Move Forward party and has aspirations to become prime minister. This historic electoral win may be in jeopardy as traditional power structures appear poised to sharpen their knives.