The outgoing Prime Minister in Thailand, General Prayut Chan-o-cha, called for calm on Thursday after the final rejection by Parliament of the candidacy for his succession of the progressive Pita Limjaroenrat, winner of the last elections whose program is considered too radical vis-à-vis the monarchy and the army.
Pita’s party, Move Forward (MFP) came out on top in the May 14 election thanks to the massive support of young people eager for profound change in the kingdom, which has been ruled by the military for almost a decade.
But the day of Wednesday, full of twists and turns, showered their hopes, between the suspension of Pita as deputy due to suspicions of irregularities and a ban on presenting his candidacy for the post of Prime Minister a second time.
His plan to reform the severe lèse-majesté law has drawn a yellow line with senators, who refuse any compromise with Move Forward, deemed too radical vis-à-vis the monarchy.
Nearly a thousand protesters gathered around the Democracy Monument in central Bangkok in the evening to express their anger at the decision of conservative MPs and senators to de facto ban Pita, 42, from politics indefinitely.
General Prayut, who came to power in 2014 in a coup and has been in office since the election as interim leader, said he “understands” the frustration of Move Forward supporters, his spokesman reported.
He called for restraint and said “everyone must work to move Thailand forward in a democratic way alongside the monarchy,” said Rachada Dhnadirek.
Thailand risks sinking into a political crisis in the absence of a declared candidate after the progressive was sidelined.
His party has until the end defended his project to reform the strict lèse-majesté law, which protects the king and punishes up to 15 years in prison any criticism of the monarchy.
It also represents a threat to the large family monopolies which play a major role in the kingdom’s economy.
His coalition of 8 parties, majority in the National Assembly, must now try to agree on a new name, probably from Pheu Thai, the party that came second in the legislative elections.
Businessman Srettha Thavisin (60), with a more consensual profile, is the best placed to take over, but the presence of Move Forward among his supporters could deter senators and thus push him to ally with movements more conciliatory with the army.
The Pheu Thai is a heavyweight in Thai politics, secretly led by the Shinawatra family, which includes among its members two former prime ministers ousted by military coups in 2006 and 2014.
“Pheu Thai will have a chance now,” political analyst Thitinan Pongsudhirak told AFP.
“And the next step will be the orchestration of the Pheu Thai-led coalition government to exclude Move Forward,” he added.
“So far, we remain loyal to the MFP,” party leader Cholnan Srikaew said, adding that “if we want to win, we have to have enough self-confidence.”
In order to obtain the necessary votes in the Senate, the Pheu Thai could seek support elsewhere in Parliament, probably among the pro-army parties.
But the decision to break away from Move Forward may be costly for Pheu Thai in the future, according to political scientist Napisa Waitoolkiat. “They are walking a tightrope.”
Maintaining a military presence in the next government carries the risk of civil unrest, as many voters voted to turn the page on the army of power.
“There will be bigger protests than in 2020 because the government is attacking the party that won the popular vote,” Patsaravalee Tanakitvibulpon, a protest leader at the time, told AFP. “People won’t stand it.”
Thailand, where high inequalities persist, has one of the lowest growth rates in Southeast Asia, which calls for major structural reforms.
Economic circles are worried about prolonged instability, which could impact the vital tourism sector.
07/20/2023 09:07:24 – Bangkok (AFP) – © 2023 AFP
