Thailand humiliates the generals

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They have thrown away their uniform. In fact, since the 2014 coup and the 2019 pseudo-elections, Thailand has been ruled by generals. The conservative royalist camp won the last parliamentary elections four years ago with a bang. Opposition parties had received significantly more votes. But if you can’t beat them, just ban them, is the motto of the civilian junta government. Thailand voted again on Sunday. Does history repeat itself? According to preliminary results, the two pro-democracy opposition parties are unassailable in the lead. Once things go well in the kingdom, the land of the generals bent on a coup d’état is about to change power.

The progressive Move Forward Party (MFP) and the reformist Pheu Thai Party (PT) met late in the evening (local time) after counting nearly 85 percent of the ballots for 225 of the 500 seats. PT Prime Ministerial candidate Paetongtarn “Ung Ing” Shinawatra (36) warned those in power: Whoever gets the most votes will be charged with forming a government: “The voice of the people is most important,” Paetongtarn said after the vote, two weeks later on. the birth of her second child.

As Shinawatra, she is the third top representative of the political clan, which already has two heads of government who have been impeached. Her father Thaksin (73) and her aunt Yingluck (55) live in exile after scandalous accusations and fear of returning home. But it won’t be that simple, even if the voice of the people is clear.

“time for change”

Before all votes are counted, MFP’s high flyers lead the way. As early as 2019, the young oppositionists had instantly made it the second largest party in the country – and were banned on the basis of flimsy accusations. The successor party is also critical of the king. The constitution needs to be modernized and the controversial lèse-majeste article 112 is repealed; the law that puts people behind bars for decades for trifles.

The de facto ruler Prayut Chan-ocha (69), who has not been elected since 2014, threatens his opponents if they want to touch Article 112. King Vajiralongkorn (70) does not like to be close to people, like his father Monarch Bhumibol († 88), who passed away in 2016. But defending the crown is also about defending immense wealth and privilege.

“It’s time for change in Thailand,” said Move Forward boss Pita Limjaroenrat (42) on Sunday. Opposition solidarity is the perfect way to face the challenges facing the country. This while MFP was again threatened with party dissolution in the run-up to the elections.

Emergency brake Senate

Too early to write off Prayut with his United Thai Nation Party. Admittedly, they and their allies are far behind. Still, the 69-year-old could stay in power. Because after the military coup of 2014, the generals took precautions. They changed the constitution in their favor. Together with the 500 deputies, 250 unelected senators appointed by the military decide on the future head of government. They are considered unlikely to support a Shinawatra or MFP candidate.

The ruling party Bhumjaithai (BJT), with its provisional third place, could tip the balance of power. BJT itself was often on a collision course with the dinosaurs in the coalition and was open to switching sides. It is also questionable whether Prayut and his followers will again dare to ignore the will of the people. Another power grab under the fig leaf of a bogus constitution could be the catalyst that fills the streets of Bangkok with bloody anti-government protests after years of tense calm.

Preliminary results will be announced on Monday at 10:30 am (5:30 am CEST). The Electoral Authority is investigating a number of counting issues, including candidates who received more votes than the actual number of votes.

Source: Blick