Thailand general election fundamentally flawed: Human Rights Watch

[Ratsima]

Statements from the EU and US on the recent developments in Thailand ... China has been very quiet ...

It’s right out of China’s playbook, isn’t it?

[buksida]

This looks like exactly the right type of guy to take Thailand forwards ... seen him on TV, very well spoken and none of the 'dictator arrogance'. However, the old dinosaurs have slammed the country in reverse and jammed a brick on the accelerator. Gotta hope that eventually, they'll all die off and become extinct, and Thailand can emerge from the dark ages ... maybe not in my lifetime, but at least for my kids.

WHO IS NATTHAPHONG RUANGPANYAWUT, THE LEADER OF THE PEOPLE’S PARTY?
The new journey of the Thai progressive party in the new name, People’s Party, has started on August 9, 2024, with the new leader at the age only 37. Natthaphong Ruangpanyawut said he will is ready to push himself forward, with his unmatched asset being hard work, to lead the party to election victory.

Nicknamed ‘Teng’, Natthapong was born on May 18, 1987, into a business family, similar to Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the leader of the Future Forward Party, and Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of the Move Forward Party.

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics ... les-party/

[Ratsima]

You’re absolutely right. I was impressed listening to him speak.

Don’t you think he looks a bit like Thanathorn?

[Dannie Boy]

The political scene in Thailand is as unstable as ever with a court ruling later today on whether to remove Prime Minister Srettha!!
https://www.theguardian.com/world/artic ... g-judgment

[Ratsima]

Bye bye Srettha.

[PeteC]

Bye bye Srettha.

...and the entire cabinet. Links coming later with the articles. Back to the stone age.

[Ratsima]

With this the elites and monarchists have shown beyond a doubt that peaceful reform via the coup makers constitution is impossible. What next?

And who's the next PM? Lung Pom?

[Ratsima]

From Thai PBS:

The Constitutional Court found Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin guilty today of violating the Constitution when he appointed Pichit Chuenban as PM Office minister in May.

The ruling strips Srettha of his prime ministerial status, meaning that he must cease work as Thailand’s 30th prime minister immediately.

This also means that Srettha’s cabinet are removed from office en masse.

The judges voted 5-4 against Srettha, who they said had violated the constitution by appointing Pichit, a former lawyer and long-time legal advisor to the Shinawatra family, because Pichit had served a six-month prison term for contempt of court in 2008.

The ruling follows a petition filed with the court in May, by a group of 40 former senators. They alleged that Srettha’s appointment of Pichit as the PM Office minister violated §160 of the constitution, which bars individuals who have been sentenced to imprisonment or who fail to comply with ethical standards.

At first, they asked the Court to suspend Srettha from office, but the Court rejected the request and ordered the hearing and, ultimately, Srettha’s removal.

[Ratsima]

Part of CNN's report:

The verdict means more upheaval for Thailand’s already turbulent political landscape, in which those pushing for change have frequently run afoul of the establishment – a small but powerful clique of military, royalist and business elites.

Over the past two decades, dozens of lawmakers have faced bans, parties have been dissolved and prime ministers have been overthrown in coups or by court decisions – with the judiciary playing a central role in the ongoing battle for power.

[joelle]

Bye bye Srettha.

No surprise there, was to be expected after last week's court decision

[PeteC]

Thaksin better find a way out of here, again. His 112 issue is coming up shortly and what today shows is that he will be convicted, no matter how long ago the alleged incident was. I think it happened in 2005!

[Ratsima]

Bye bye Srettha.

No surprise there, was to be expected after last week's court decision

Well, it was a surprise to some of us. Most political commentators predicted he would not be removed. One of the few who predicted correctly was Mr Veera.

[PeteC]

The only significant investors left here will be the Chinese.

[joelle]

Bye bye Srettha.

No surprise there, was to be expected after last week's court decision

Most political commentators predicted he would not be removed.

Never trust political prediction
Looks like Anutin's on the starting blocks ( I hope to be wrong though)

[caller]

Thaksin better find a way out of here, again. His 112 issue is coming up shortly and what today shows is that he will be convicted, no matter how long ago the alleged incident was. I think it happened in 2005!

That was my immediate thought - the next headline will be that Thaksin flees the Country.

I think PT are already outnumbered by their coalition partners, so the PM for any partnership that remains, may come from elsewhere. Anutin for PM?

Ofr course, PT could try and form a new coalition with the peoples party - lol! That ain't going to happen though.

Crazy days in Thailand.