Acting Deputy Leader of the Democrats Alongkorn Ponlaboot has announced that his party intends to support Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of the Move Forward Party (MFP), in his bid for the position of prime minister.
This decision comes after the impressive victory of the MFP, which secured the majority of the vote in the country and was supported by more than 14 million people. Alongkorn says this action is intended to respect the will of the people and ensure that the government's transition is smooth and swift, without placing any preconditions on the involvement of Democrats in government.
The announcement comes ahead of a scheduled meeting of the Democrats' executive committee, which will be attended by party leaders and members from around the country.
Alongkorn stressed that it is important that the Democrats play a role in preventing a possible deadlock in the election of a new prime minister. Electing a prime minister requires a minimum of 376 votes of support from MPs.
Despite the Democrats' support for the MFP prime ministerial candidate, they have indicated their willingness to join the opposition to ensure balanced governance.
The acting deputy leader also confirmed that the party's actions will comply with three core principles: maintaining a democratic regime with the king as head of state, promoting transparent democracy and striving for a democracy that overcomes the economic challenges facing the public is faced with.
Source: NNT- National News Bureau of Thailand
More and more senators are also reluctantly aligning themselves with the new coalition. They say they will respect the persuasive verdict of the people. I estimate that more senators will follow.
In the coming weeks, a kind of government statement (called the MOU) will have to be produced in which all parties recognize themselves, support the statement and which must serve as a guideline for policy in every department. That will be quite a fuss because it is a clear break with the current way of conducting politics in this country. It is specific: the minister determines what happens in his policy areas and the Council of Ministers agrees by definition. That is why you hardly ever see the PM defending someone else's policy in parliament.
The intention is that a MoU will be presented the day after tomorrow, May 22 (the day that Prayuth committed his coup 9 years ago). A Memorandum of Understanding. The word says it all: it is indicated that 'agreement' has been reached on a number of matters and that the relevant matters can be further elaborated, eg into policy and implementation at a later stage. An MoU is therefore not a (sort of) government statement. That belongs to a PM who gives parliament text and explanations of the policy that a formed government intends to implement. It is now mainly about the formal announcement that
1- meanwhile ten political parties have found each other, which
2- Support Pita Limjaroenrat in his aspiration to become the new Prime Minister,
3- based on a program that can already be called historical by Thai standards.
The great importance of issuing such a MoU, apart from all the symbolism regarding the choice of day, is that the Thai people get confirmation that their political choice last Sunday is fact, no institution can deny it anymore, and that their choice is translated in a number of policy plans: transparent, verifiable, accountable.
There is still a lot to do: the PTP wants the MFP to dim down a bit on the 112 matter and I don't think such an attitude is wrong. Runners are dead runners. RobV. listed the MFP party program: https://www.thailandblog.nl/politiek/verkiezingen-2023/de-standpunten-van-move-forward/ You can also want too much. In the coming weeks, don't quibble about which party should have which ministries and put people in relevant positions in a competent manner.
Just as May 5 is not the day for a visit to the Netherlands by a 'friendly' president at war (who has come to ask for more weapons), May 22 is not a suitable day to present an MOU. That only sows unnecessary salt in the wounds, and does not symbolize that one should now forget the past and look ahead.
Everyone should be welcome on May 4 and 5: we ourselves were occupied and at war and with the help of other countries we were liberated symbolism at its best and many agree with me. Always reminds me of the reformed who read and hear about neighborly care every day until someone knocks for help and they act the opposite, regularly experienced. What's the point of everything then? May 22 is a symbolic day and it is good to indicate on that day that things can be done differently.