Thailand

Thai PM survives no-confidence motion – “no surprise”

Published

Saturday, February 20, 2021 14:05

Thailand’s PM Prayut Chan-o-cha and 9 of his cabinet members have unsurprisingly survived a no-confidence censure motion today in the Thai parliament after 3 days of intense debates. The opposition, who filed the motion, sharply criticised the PM’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, along with the subsequent vaccination program, or lack of it, and alleged “systematic corruption”.

According to Thai Enquirer, the Minister of Education received the least amount of support in parliament after student protesters criticised him, saying he “failed to improve and reform Thailand’s education system”.

The Move Forward, a reboot of the Future Forward party that performed so well in the 2019 general election, highlighted alleged corruption in the Thai police force with the party MPs alleging that top government officials have created “a secret list that gives certain policemen preferential treatment”.

The vaccination program was also criticised by the opposition, saying its reliance on just 1 firm to produce the vaccine locally is slowing down the process. Acquisition and arrival of the overseas vaccine products keeps being delayed. Additionally, the firm selected to produce the vaccine in Thailand, Siam Bioscience, has been shown to be owned by the Crown Property Bureau.

Meanwhile, vaccine distribution methods have been mulled as critics say poorer residents could suffer if local municipalities use their own funds to purchase and administer the vaccines. Critics say many local municipalities who offer to fund the vaccines may have “alterior political motives”. Local elections are just around the corner, with some candidates allegedly offering free vaccines with the hopes of boosting votes.

Critics also claim that PM Prayut used the Emergency Decree as a political tool, attempting to gain more power legally while protests heated up nationwide. Such powers asserted under the decree have allowed the government to issue curfews and bans on large gatherings, which include political ones.

The ability to arrest demonstrators based on breaking this law has been exercised with even some minor students being charged with violating the Emergency Decree. Arrests were also made under the Lese Majeste law, gaining widespread criticism internationally along with human rights groups weighing in on the matter.

SOURCE: Thai Enquirer

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18 Comments

Jason

Saturday, February 20, 2021 at 2:30 pm

Perhaps politicians fail to see that their political antics and attempts at “one upmanship” at a time when the people want economic certainty and a vaccination program that is fair, fast and comprehensive, may find themselves out of power at the next general election. Thailand has had the benefit of seeing how other countries are rolling out their vaccination programs. So it shouldn’t need a three month (all expenses paid) seminar to come up with a plan. Delays due to politics will be viewed very dimly by the people.

Remember…Winston Churchill was voted out of office in the first general election after World War 2.

Reply
Issan John

Saturday, February 20, 2021 at 2:39 pm

No surprises at all – the conclusion was obvious and inevitable given the numbers, and even the opposition said that before the censure debate.

Censure debates can only be held once a year, so this was held at the first opportunity after the February 2020 debate – some suggestions are that rather than blowing their chance at the first opportunity the opposition would have done better to wait until things had got worse, such as the delays with the vaccine roll out and the economy, and then the opposition might have stood more chance of swinging some votes.

Reply
- Bill
  
  Monday, February 22, 2021 at 3:43 am
  
  ij is a pos.
  
  Reply
Jason

Saturday, February 20, 2021 at 2:58 pm

Oh I forgot…this is a Military Junta, not a Democracy (not a real one anyway). So of course the PM survived the no confidence motion. He will survived any kind of motion. It will be interesting to see what happens when vaccination is widespread and the pandemic is over…..

Reply
- Slugger
  
  Saturday, February 20, 2021 at 3:26 pm
  
  I’ll tell you what will happen – nothing. They are buch of raggy kids shouting at the behest of the Americans, who love unrest anywhere, and they’ve shot their bolt.
  
  Reply
- Issan John
  
  Saturday, February 20, 2021 at 3:31 pm
  
  He would have survived anyway, Jason.
  
  He got to be PM courtesy of the Senate votes, as he and the NCPO chose them, but however you play the figures the democratically elected MPs (and like it or not, the MPs were democratically elected) were the ones who voted in the censure debate and 272 voted for him and 206 against.
  
  It could have been a mistake for the opposition to hold the censure debate at the earliest opportunity as it can only be held once a year (the last was in February 2020), and it’s possible, albeit unlikely, that some of the PM’s coalition may have changed sides in a few months if there’s no sign of the vaccination roll out (and consequently the economy) improving but that was the opposition’s choice.
  
  Unfortunately, by the time “the vaccination is widespread and the pandemic is over” the next elections may have come and gone (March 2023); however bad or unpopular any leader may be, the reality is that unless there’s someone who’s more popular then they’re likely to remain in power.
  
  Reply
  - Jason
    
    Saturday, February 20, 2021 at 4:13 pm
    
    I bow to your knowledge as a local for many years. From a distance, I had hoped it could become a real Constitutional Monarchy as we are here. Of course we will become a republic once the present monarch passes away. Maybe the King could do as his father did and make something that absolutely has to happen, a “Royal Project”. King Rama IX (my His sould rest in peace), was wise in navigating his way around political obstacles. It’s why he is still revered. Maybe His son could gain greater respect among the people by championing to cause of vaccination.
    
    Reply
    - Issan John
      
      Saturday, February 20, 2021 at 4:42 pm
      
      I’d never claim greater “knowledge” than anyone, Jason – experience, possibly, but there’s a difference 🙂
      
      I think vaccines and vaccinations are going to shape Thailand’s future in a lot of ways, a lot more significantly than some people realise.
      
      Aus a republic? Inevitable, really.
      
      Reply
  - Joe
    
    Saturday, February 20, 2021 at 8:50 pm
    
    Yes they should have waited until things got worse, but keep in mind that many in the opposition are controlled by the government, especially those from the Pheu Thai party, so maybe that’s why the censure debate is happening now before things get worse.
    
    Reply
Ian

Saturday, February 20, 2021 at 3:51 pm

Thier won’t be a thailand left in 2 years if they carry on the way they are so nothing left to vote for totally disgusting that this guy is voted to carry on destroying the country it’s all down to the people good luck to them

Reply
Dreamon

Saturday, February 20, 2021 at 4:03 pm

Obviously, he is a violent, corrupted puppet dictator under the control of the King.
The sooner Thai people get rid of the monarchy with an old French style revolution, the better.

Reply
Ian

Saturday, February 20, 2021 at 4:16 pm

The people really need to come out of thier homes in issan thier skyscrapers in Bangkok thier condos in pataya ,chang mai ECT and march in thier millions to show this dictatorship they have had enough until this happens the monarchy,the dictator and his cronies will not do anything if the king is a king of his people now his the time to show it and gain what bit of respect he may have left

Reply
Remy Martin

Saturday, February 20, 2021 at 5:23 pm

Its clear to see nobody here has any experience in politics

Reply
- Toby Andrews
  
  Sunday, February 21, 2021 at 5:05 pm
  
  I have. I have voted a few times . . .
  
  Reply
Joe

Saturday, February 20, 2021 at 9:29 pm

Yes they should have waited until things got worse, but keep in mind that many in the opposition are controlled by the government, especially those from the Pheu Thai party, so maybe that’s why the censure debate is happening now before things get worse.

Reply
Toby Andrews

Sunday, February 21, 2021 at 11:30 pm

This example confirms he is defiantly a dictator, but what an amateur.
I have seen the medal and decorations he is supposed to be entitled to, and he does not display them all. And most of them are a joke! “The order of the white elephant!”
Awarded to any government official who has been employed for five years.
Maybe a car park attendant would be entitled to one.
No wonder he does not display them all.
Now Id Amin. He was a dictator.
Medals and decorations right from his high chest to his belt.
More decorations than a Christmas tree, What a guy!
This Prayut Cha Cha Cha is not in the same league.

Reply
James R

Monday, February 22, 2021 at 3:34 am

It seems over the last number of months most comments here are from farangs living in Thailand who constantly moan and complain about the country.

Simple solution, bugger off and go back home to your own country.

Hang on, I have a suspicion now, ,most of the moaners can probably not afford to live back home unless they live in a garden shed etc as they have blown all of their money and can now only afford to live in a condo-land in Thailand in a small upcountry village with nothing to do but moan.

Once the rest of us get back to Thailand for long yearly holidays the positive tone might improve as we can at least afford to live in luxury there.

Reply
Toby Andrews

Monday, February 22, 2021 at 1:42 pm

Who wants to live in the west at this time of year? Record cold in the USA, and the usual freezing winter in the UK.
No thank you. I will stay here and moan.
You cannot come because your are too broke to pay the reasonable quarantine fees.
Save your money and come for your two weeks holiday when there is no quarantine.
That’s if you have not spent all you have on heating bills.

Reply

Ann Carter

Ann Carter is an award-winning journalist from the United States with over 12 years experience in print and broadcast news. Her work has been featured in America, China and Thailand as she has worked internationally at major news stations as a writer and producer. Carter graduated from the Walter Williams Missouri School of Journalism in the USA.

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