The Move Forward Party has filed a petition in the National Assembly seeking to amend the constitution to eliminate the unelected Senate’s ability to veto prime ministerial candidates. It is to be debated on August 4, 2023 [Rungroj Yongrit/EPA]
Metropolis Desk-
According to its erstwhile ally, the Pheu Thai Party, the progressive Move Forward Party, which garnered the most seats in the last general election in Thailand, has been shut out of the coalition hoping to form the country’s next administration.
Move Forward’s planned amendment to a law prohibiting criticism of the nation’s monarchy is fiercely opposed by conservative politicians.
Since the elections in May, Thailand has been unable to establish a government or choose a new leader for almost three months.
In the 500-member House of Representatives, the Move Forward Party, the unexpected victor, put together an eight-party coalition with 312 seats. To ratify a new prime minister, however, under the military-enacted constitution, a majority vote is required in both the elected House and the 250-member Senate, which was selected by a previous military administration.
Pita Limjaroenrat, the head of Move Forward, lost his initial attempt last month by more than 50 votes, mostly because only 13 senators supported him. A procedural vote in the National Assembly the following week prevented his second effort and declared that he could not be nominated again.
Prayuth Chan-ocha, who as army commander overthrew the government in a coup in 2014 and was re-elected as prime minister in 2019, will be replaced by parliament for the third time on Friday. A future court ruling, though, might cause another vote postponement.
On Thursday, the Constitutional Court will convene to decide whether or not to accept the state ombudsman’s appeal for a judgment on the constitutionality of Parliament’s rejection of Pita’s renomination. If approved, the court could instruct a postponement of the third vote until after it renders a decision.
Following its two unsuccessful attempts, the populist Pheu Thai, the second-largest party in its alliance, took the initiative in forming a new administration.
At a news conference on Wednesday, Chonlanan Srikaew, the leader of Pheu Thai, stated that after speaking with other parties and senators, it was evident that Move Forward’s position on the monarchy, which he called “the important institution of our country,” was a major barrier for the coalition in obtaining enough votes in the National Assembly to confirm a new prime minister.
Younger people were particularly drawn to Move Forward’s platform, which also aims to lessen the power of economic monopolies and the military, which has launched more than a dozen coups since Thailand became a constitutional monarchy in 1932.
Chonlanan declared that Pheu Thai will propose real estate magnate Srettha Thavisin for prime minister and would attempt to build a coalition government without Move Forward. On Thursday, the party would reveal its new coalition allies, he said.
Chonlanan read from a party statement, “The Pheu Thai Party would like to express its sincerity to our friends in all political parties and the Senate, including the people, that this is the way we can preserve the significant institution of the country as the cornerstone of all people in the nation and at the same time advance the demands of the people under these limitations.
Move Forward’s secretary-general, Chaithawat Tulathon, stated that Pheu Thai did not request that it change its stance on monarchy reform, but that Move Forward was not wanted in the government by any of the parties it has spoken to.
Move Forward has submitted a petition to the National Assembly asking that the unelected Senate’s power to veto prime ministerial candidates be removed from the constitution. Friday will also see a discussion on it.
The Senate regards itself as the defender of traditional royalist principles. Because Pita’s party has called for changes to the statute that prohibits disparaging the royal family, many senators have stated that they will not vote for him. The statute, which carries a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, has drawn criticism for being routinely exploited as a political tool.
Source- Al Jazeera
