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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.
At the end of the session, Pita was unable to collect enough of the 376 votes needed. The result was 324 votes in favour, 182 against and 199 abstentions. Only 13 of the 250 senators appointed by the junta voted for Pita, while 43 failed to show up. This outcome was not surprising, as several royalist and right-wing senators and MPs had announced that they would never vote for Pita if he continued to push for Article 112 to be amended.
The session started at 10.00am with the nomination of Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of the Move Forward party, as a candidate for the post of new Prime Minister of Thailand. This was suggested by Chonlan Srikaew, the leader of the Pheu Thai party, who was involved in forming the government. Several deputies and senators then took the floor. Speakers not involved in government formation criticized Pita and the Move Forward party for pushing for strict compliance with Article 112. There was little discussion of the issue of Pita's shareholding in ITV, which is currently under investigation by the Constitutional Court.
Senator Kamnoon Sidhisamarn, one of the speakers, criticized the proposed amendment to Article 112, stating that it would lead to slander and unfair criticism on social media. This, he said, would be tantamount to amending the constitutional provision protecting the monarchy, potentially leading to blasphemy and charges against anyone accused under Article 112.
Pita requested the right to refute these allegations and those of other members. He clarified that the issue of amending Article 112 was not discussed in the Memorandum of Understanding of the agreement between the eight parties. According to Pita, the main purpose of the meeting was to elect a new prime minister, not to change laws. Nevertheless, he stated that he was willing to listen and to be patient. Pita further noted that he has extensive qualifications in all fields. He has shown self-control and will continue to do so, unlike others who have never done so. Although he did not name names, it is safe to assume that he was referring to General Prayut Chan-o-cha, who never underwent such an investigation.
However, it seems that most senators have not accepted his arguments.
Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, the new speaker of the House of Representatives, previously indicated that if Pita of the Move Forward Party does not receive the necessary 13 votes to become prime minister on July 376, a second vote will take place on July 19. There is no rule that would prevent the majority party from nominating Pita again. Pita said he accepted the result but would not give up. He and his team would work on a strategy to get more votes next time. He also confirmed that the MFP would stick to its original plan to amend Article 112 of the Penal Code and form a government with the Pheu Thai party.
Outside the parliament building, police have set up barbed wire and barricades to prevent protesters from accessing a pedestrian overpass at the Kiak Kai intersection next to the parliament. This happened shortly after 01.00 a.m. on the day of the vote for the new prime minister.
Bangkok police issued a ban on gatherings around the parliament building within a radius of 50 meters from 06:00 on July 12 until midnight on July 15.
Source: Khaosod English
Now you suddenly know where the wind comes from, who determines politics in Thailand.
Who decides then, do you think?
The wind blows from all angles here in Thailand.
The politics in Thailand is determined in the 1st line by the military, who are supported in the 2nd line by the wealthy Thais. Those who own money and enterprises. The people chose Pita en masse, but he seems to have a very hard time even if he is elected and that is a scandal, because the people are not owned by a country, the land is owned by the people!
If you have 1/3 of the seats in a country anyway, regardless of the election result, you always have a vote in parliament. You don't have to have a majority to be able to determine what is politically determined.
The wind blows meteorologically from all angles, in Thailand a bleak wind blows from a certain angle and it doesn't feel nice.
Prayuth and his mates have put together the system well. Well thought out, to say the least. The accountants did their job well. No constitutional amendment can be made on the basis of numbers without the cooperation of part of the senate. And precisely that senate is not elected by the people, but appointed from uniforms and manageable friends.
Pita could have known that 112 was going to be a hot item and that might break his neck now. Wonder what the next step is if Pita fails to become PM again. Will the desired new coalition be played apart? Pita and his club offside?
The conservative gentlemen have not counted on the enormous impact of Pita, which is many times greater than that of Yingluck.
Pita himself has indicated that if he is not elected tomorrow he will support the candidate of PT while retaining the coalition (very likely Srettha, because Thaksin's daughter is also not acceptable to the senators). Let's see what the senators vote for then because that art 112 is of course a fallacy. It is NOT in the coalition's MOU and voting against a person because of a position of his political party is crazy.
Today you can vote with your phone for a new PM. Pita is in the lead with more than 51 million votes.
https://vote66.jaytnw.com/?fbclid=IwAR1Ky_1F_BqtY6ju9odzJt6jAWhhVxe9qg2iKS6USONcAD4HqAyKB00f0PM
As Ruud puts it: where the wind comes from.
Early tomorrow, the judge will decide whether or not Pita can be banned from parliament.
If so, the Pita Show is over.
And that's what it looks like.
Stay away from the center of Bangkok. Containers have already been placed everywhere. Riot police are on standby.
Pita wants to downsize the army and abolish compulsory conscription. Fewer generals, fewer promotion opportunities, fewer boyfriends. That is much more important than art.112. Chances are this will be more motivating for the senators to vote against Pita.
How about the following views from the MFP:
-more market forces by tackling the oligopolies (internet/telephony, alcohol, health care, education)
-more support for SMEs
-decentralization of government (less power for Bangkok)
The whole election, which tries to keep up the pretense of a real democracy, is nothing but an expensive theater.
Theater because in the end NOT the people / voters will decide who will ultimately become Prime Minister of Thailand, but a senate that will pay strict attention to the fact that the old elites will lose as little of their power as possible.
Actually, the name "Move forward" is reason enough to closely monitor this party, because in principle they prefer no changes or progress at all.
Progress is often linked to change, and what would these gentlemen really want to see changed, if the system has been bearing fruit for them for years?
Even if Pita made it through tomorrow, which I wouldn't count on, he would remain nothing but a puppet of this Senate.
A Senate that will bend the lines of the Prime Minister/puppet in such a way that the conservative elite will lose nothing in power and advantage, and will immediately suppress any possible change.
As pointed out by several commenters: Article 112 is not the real stumbling block but the excuse card. It is clear that the higher networks are not waiting for major changes. They do not want to lose their privileged position. People then screen with excuses if Article 112 or that MFP would have the wrong strategy would want too much. Also internationally the old excuse: don't change too much, don't change too quickly, and the way is wrong etc etc. Preferably not at all, leave everything as it is, that's actually the message.
Totally agree.
In Stephen Covey's famous book on the 7Habits of Highly Effective people, one of these habits is: Start with the end in mind.
There is no democracy in Thailand. That is the only thing that has been proven loud and clear here. The people determine nothing, the military, the rich, and the monarch all the more. The only sad truth!
Oh, here in the Netherlands the largest party can also be kept out of government by a coalition of other parties. You can also see this in The Hague, for example, where Hart voor Den Haag by Richard de Mos is kept outside the city council by the left.
If you don't want that, you have to go to a two-party system like in the US.