Move Forward Party

In one chaotic day, Thailand sees one PM elected, one ex-PM sent to jail. Where does the country go from here?

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
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More than three months after Thailand’s national elections – and many anti-democratic manoeuvres in parliament – the country finally has a new prime minister, Srettha Thavisin.

Key Points: 
  • More than three months after Thailand’s national elections – and many anti-democratic manoeuvres in parliament – the country finally has a new prime minister, Srettha Thavisin.
  • But, given the chaotic nature of Thai politics, this was perhaps not even the biggest news of the week.

Who is Thaksin and why is he important?

    • Thaksin’s extraordinary popularity as prime minister challenged the primacy of the monarchy and the military in the country.
    • The first removed Thaksin from power, prompting him to go into exile to avoid prosecution.
    • After Thaksin touched down at Bangkok’s airport this week, he was taken to the Supreme Court for a hearing and transferred to prison.

How did Srettha become PM?

    • The party nominated its own prime ministerial candidate, Srettha, a wealthy property developer and political newcomer, and formed a new coalition with two military-aligned parties, the Palang Pracharath Party and Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party, and a range of others.
    • This gave Srettha the support he needed from the military-appointed senators to win the prime ministership.
    • The only significant party to vote against Srettha in the parliament election was Move Forward and its 149 MPs.

What happens now?

    • As such, we may see a tussle between Srettha and Thaksin for influence in the party.
    • Srettha may very well attempt to project the image that he is his own man and not beholden to anyone.
    • Once again, the anti-democratic forces within Thailand’s elites have stifled the will of the people and we may be entering another volatile era in Thai politics.

Explainer: why was the winner of Thailand's election blocked from becoming prime minister?

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, July 20, 2023
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The Thai parliamentary election was held over two months ago and yet, the country still has no prime minister or government.

Key Points: 
  • The Thai parliamentary election was held over two months ago and yet, the country still has no prime minister or government.
  • While much remains in flux, one thing appears certain – the popular reformist leader of the party that received the most votes in the election, Pita Limjaroenrat, will not be the country’s next prime minister.
  • So, why has the winner of the election been blocked from taking office?

Who is Pita?

    • However, it was soon replaced by the newly established Move Forward Party, and Pita was elected its leader in March 2020.
    • Even more astonishing was Move Forward’s almost clean sweep of Bangkok, winning 32 out of 33 seats.
    • Pita then built a coalition of eight parties that together controlled 312 of the 500 seats in the House, a clear majority.

Why was Pita disqualified?

    • Before the first round of parliamentary voting, Pita and his party were presented with two other significant hurdles – the Constitutional Court had received two cases against them.
    • The second, referred by the Election Commission, argued Pita should be removed as an MP for knowingly holding shares in a media company when he registered.
    • Pita was allowed to contest the first round of voting on July 13 nonetheless, but fell short, winning 324 votes.

Why do conservatives oppose Pita?

    • A new book on the Thai king by an exiled academic, Pavin Chachavalpongpun, was also recently banned for defaming the monarchy.
    • Pita and his party have also committed to push for a bill to legalise same-sex marriage and improve gender equality in Thailand.
    • But it also made the party a target of powerful, anti-democratic, conservative forces, particularly the military, the monarchy and their supporters.

So what could happen next?

    • Many young people feel as though the conservative forces in Thai society have stifled the democratic will of the people – yet again.
    • There is a chance this is true and we are on the cusp of a surge of democratic power in Thailand.
    • But for many long-time observers of civil-military relations in Southeast Asia, this view might turn out to be overly optimistic.