Thailand general election fundamentally flawed: Human Rights Watch

[Ratsima]

More from CNN:

With Srettha now out of office, political negotiations will restart, with coalition partners jostling for Cabinet positions and the top job.

Pheu Thai leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thaksin’s youngest daughter, is a likely candidate. Others include Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who had successfully pushed for the legalization of cannabis in the country, and political veteran Prawit Wongsuwan, leader of the pro-military Palang Pracharat party, who was involved in the past two coups against the Shinawatra family.

[caller]

I have just read that whoever the Deputy PM is, has the right to dissolve Parliament and call an election. I wonder if they would dare?

And also that the first deputy PM is urgently trying to organise a flight back from Kazakhstan! He's there on Govt. business. They must have been confident beforehand.

[Big Boy]

Who is the deputy PM? I've seen several different people attract that title.

Mr. Google suggests:

Deputy.png (58.04 KiB) Viewed 4126 times

[PeteC]

I have just read that whoever the Deputy PM is, has the right to dissolve Parliament and call an election. I wonder if they would dare?

If he does, just keep spending the money! "On January 24, Thailand’s Cabinet approved a budget of 5.94 billion baht for the Election Commission (EC) to hold the upcoming election". ( The Nation 2023 election)

[caller]

Deputy.png

There is a hierarchy. First Deputy Prime Minister is Phumtham Wechayachai of PT. Second Deputy Prime Minister is Suriya Juangroongruangkit.

From Khaosod English

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics ... cs-ruling/

[buksida]

I haven't watched it yet, but Al Jazeera has a half-hour piece on Thailand's political situation that may be more informing than the censored local media. It was pretty obvious those with ties to the Shinawatras wouldn't last long, with the military still pulling the strings here.

Is Thailand on the path to fresh political turmoil?
In the past week, the Constitutional Court has dismissed the prime minister and ordered the dissolution of the main opposition party, which won last year’s election.

Both decisions come at a time when the economy is sluggish and many Thais are frustrated by the political process.

Thailand’s democracy has been fragile for decades, with governments overthrown by the generals who remain in overall control.

So what does this latest turmoil mean for the country?

https://www.aljazeera.com/program/insid ... al-turmoil

Naturally, China is likely to benefit from the demise of whatever notion of democracy existed here ...
China ties strong enough to weather Thailand’s political turmoil: analysts
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diploma ... l-analysts

[Ratsima]

I watched about half of the Al Jazeera video. It was fascinating and the interviewees seemed to have a lot to say. Unfortunately, although the moderator (?) asked good questions that begged detailed responses, he interrupted almost everyone before they were done. I wanted to hear what they had to say. I finally got so irritated that I gave up.

Perhaps I'll give it a second go this afternoon.

[caller]

Ho-hum, sorry

[Ratsima]

Ho-hum, sorry

Don’t be sorry, it’s good. I just lack the patience to put up with the interruptions.

[caller]

I'll have a watch as well.

What I can't get my head around, is that Thaksins daughter is now likely to be PM. A complete novice at life with a useless degree from a 2nd rate UK uni. Still, it places Thaksin in the driving seat, apart from the fact he is facing charges of lesse majeste!

Doesn't look right, does it?

[caller]

Ho-hum, sorry

Don’t be sorry, it’s good. I just lack the patience to put up with the interruptions.

Oh, this was about me messing up my posts being in too much of a hurry! At one stage I had about 4 up!!! All messed up!

[Ratsima]

I finished watching the Al Jazeera video. The statements by the panel were both interesting and informative. If you're interested in Thai politics, have a look.

On the other hand, that interviewer is one of the most annoying I've ever seen.

And, for some very interesting commentary from someone who avoids saying the quiet part out loud, have a look at Vitit's OpEd column in today's Post.

[buksida]

The Parliament has voted to approve Paetongtarn Shinawatra, leader of the Pheu Thai Party, as the 31st Prime Minister of Thailand.

Following royal endorsement and her swearing-in, she will become the youngest Prime Minister in the country's history and the second woman to hold the office.

The final vote count was 319 in favor, 145 against, and 27 abstentions.

Source: Thai Enquirer

More here: https://www.khaosodenglish.com/opinion/ ... hinawatra/

I'll give her six months, there are too many fascista dinosaurs queuing up for that position, and she's bound to have bought a stock or two years ago.

[STEVE G]

^From the Khaosod article above:

To ordinary folks, it’s less important (or even a non-issue) whether this is actually a Paetongtarn Shinawatra administration or a Thaksin Shinawatra administration, as long as it delivers – particularly on the economic front. Like what China’s paramount leader Deng Xiaoping once said: “It doesn’t matter whether a cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice.”

[hhinner]

Build more hotels! There are fully qualified hotel managers without productive jobs, having to turn to trying their hand at being Thai PM.