Thailand’s immense ideological divide is plain enough to gauge in the different-coloured shirts on view. In Hong Kong, the multitudes protesting a proposed law change opted for basic black.

Women politicians sometimes seem to have targets embroidered on their backs, with critics of their wardrobes giddily taking aim at departing British Prime Minister Theresa May, Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama in the US and even the generally stylish Yingluck Shinawatra, ex of Thailand.

More recently, the targeted lady has been Pannika Wanich, a member of the House of Representatives and the Future Forward Party.

Pannika Wanich

It wasn’t anything daring that earned Pannika public disapproval but rather her decision to attend Parliament in traditional Northern-style apparel, as seen in the popular TV soap opera “Klin Kasalong”. A violation of the parliamentary dress code, it was called.

The women of Future Forward and its coalition partner Pheu Thai have to share the condemnation around. Pannika’s fellow MPs Thanwarin Sukkhapisit, Thanyawat Kamolwongwat, Srinual Boonlue and Sirinthorn Rammasoot have all been lashed.

Thanyawat Kamolwongwat

Leading the charge against poor dress sense was, ironically, another woman, Phalang Pracharath Party MP Parina Kraikup, who’s been vocal in the House and on social media.

Academic and social activist Dr Jermsak Pinthong suggested on Facebook that this latest round of controversy wasn’t about traditional costume but about the way the wearer “presented the look”.

“Female politicians’ reputations tend to be destroyed by one of two things – sexual misbehaviour or the way they look – while male politicians are criticised for being tyrannical or corrupt,” he said.

“There aren’t many female politicians in Thailand, so the fuss about the way they dress is just a waste of time. If a female politician is confident and dresses properly, in accordance with her duty in Parliament, she can. Just don’t change the style too often as a trick to draw attention to the outer surface and lose track of important matters in Parliament and democracy.”

Clothing designer Polpat “Moo” Asavaprapa of the Asava fashion brand says dressing appropriately for a given time and place is a universal cultural norm and not difficult to do.

“But it’s not just that. Good manners are a virtue as well, no matter what career you’re in. Everybody should respect and value tradition, dressing appropriately when visiting the temple or a wedding or a funeral.

“Politicians are public figures who have the important duty of developing public policies and representing the people. It’s common sense for them to understand how to promote culture,” Polpat says.

“Michelle Obama, the former US first lady, is very smart and has a great sense of style. Sometimes she wears expensive brands and sometimes she mixes and matches with cheap clothes. On some occasions, she wears Asian or South African designer dresses. All of this shows that she’s an open-minded person, understands fashion as dresses appropriately.”

The parliamentary opposition led by the Pheu Thai Party has promised to perform their duty “in a constructive manner” by scrutinising the government during the session.

A joint parliamentary meeting of the House of Representatives and the Senate is scheduled for July 25 for the new government led by General Prayut to deliver its policy statement. The process is required by the Constitution before the new administration can start working officially.

“Please understand that this session on July 25 is to present the policy statement and to make suggestions to complete something that is missing. It’s not for censuring the government. That’s another matter, for another session,” the PM said during a press conference at Government House.

“I would like to stress that this is not a forum for an early debate on the government’s performance.”

Pheu Thai secretary general Anudith Nakornthap said the seven-party opposition bloc was well prepared for the debate and would not be deterred from carrying out its duties.

“We will place importance on scrutinising the government on all issues,” he said. “The focus will be on the people’s problems, particularly the economic recession and the larger gap between the rich and the poor.”

Anudith promised that opposition MPs would work constructively and focus solely on the interests of the people and the country. “We will not do anything that does not benefit the public,” he added.

Newly returned to the premier’s office, Prayut said he had on many occasions observed MPs post-election venture beyond their assigned roles.

“The session [on July 25] is not about the House discussing the previous government’s performance,” he said.

Asked about much-anticipated amendments to the Constitution introduced by the military junta he led, Prayut said no progress had been made by the coalition parties.

The direction towards future charter amendments would be clearer after his government announced its policies, he said.

“I am ready to support it [amendment of the Constitution]. Some laws have problems. We have to follow procedures. I have no conflict with anyone. Today we are the government of the whole country,” General Prayut told reporters at Government House.

Asked if constitutional amendment would form part of his new government’s policies, the PM said only: “It’s not ready now. You will see the policies when the final draft is finished.”

Critics and opposition politicians have assailed certain provisions in the Constitution, which has been in force since 2017, as going against democratic principles.

The Democrat Party, a key partner of the Prayut-led coalition government, is reportedly pushing for constitutional amendment to be included in the administration’s policy statement to be announced to Parliament on July 25.

Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda said on Monday that in his view, amendment of the Constitution was a matter for Parliament, not the government.

“The prime minister just offered his support. The government cannot start the process of amending the Constitution. It’s because we are the administrative branch,” General Anupong said.

He also said that the government would definitely not oppose any parliamentary motion seeking to amend the charter.

“But the people must be asked first,” Anupong said, referring to a public referendum.

The current charter, which replaces the one abolished following the 2014 military coup, was supported by most voters in an August 2016 referendum.

Anupong said he did not think the matter would cause any dispute within the government, despite certain coalition partners already promising their supporters to amend the Constitution.

“All the government parties will have to discuss this as we work together. We will have to find a consensus. Nobody can get everything they want,” he said, without elaborating.

All 36 Cabinet appointees are to board shuttle vans at the Phakdee Bordin Building at Government House by 4.30pm ready for departure at 5pm.

Ministers are prohibited from travelling to the throne hall in their own vehicles.

They are advised to adhere to the “normal” dress code and to bring along personal and government documents relating to the official posts they will assume.

The highly placed source said the new party, possibly to be called Pheu Dharma, would have both veterans and new faces from Thaksin’s inner circle among its members.

The Pheu Dharma leader could be Sompong Amornwiwat, only recently elected to lead PTP, and would likely have Anudit Nakhonthap as secretary-general, the source said.

Other members would be drawn from the disbanded Thai Raksachart Party, from among MPs not barred from politics by the Election Commission.

Among other possible members are Thaksin’s former Cabinet ministers in various party incarnations, such as Plodprasop Surassawadi, who once headed natural resources, former finance minister Kittirat Na Ranong, and former PM’s Office minister Chusak Sirinil.

The source said Thaksin’s decision to form Pheu Dharma apparently stemmed from his fear of PTP yielding ground to the rising Future Forward Party (FFP).

He is seen as sharing similar political ideas with FFP but does not have control over it.

Thaksin-affiliated parties have seen FFP gain popularity in their strongholds in the North and Northeast, where FFP is intensively campaigning with a view to future municipal and local administrative elections, the source said.

The source was speaking on condition of anonymity on Sunday, the 14th anniversary of the founding of Thai Rak Thai, Thaksin’s original party.

The source Thaksin would give Sudarat the title of PTP party president, having made Sompong its leader just last Friday.

The survey was conducted on 1,063 respondents across the country from Wednesday to Friday by Dr Noppadol Kannikar’s Super Poll.

Noppadol said 91.4 per cent of the respondents said they want the promises made during election campaigns kept, with 83.3 per cent saying they want the income guarantee promised to farmers by the Democrat Party to materialise. Measures like shoring up the price of rubber sheet to at least Bt60 per kilogram, rice at Bt10,000 per tonne and oil palm at Bt10 per kg were promised by the Democrats.

Phalang Pracharat’s promise to boost monthly salaries for bachelor degree holders to Bt20,000 came in second with 74.2 per cent votes, while the party’s plan to increase daily minimum wage from Bt400 to Bt425 came in third with 70.2 per cent, Noppadol said.

When asked to name the minister they trust the most in the new Cabinet, 73.8 per cent chose Prayut.

Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit came in second with 7.1 per cent, followed by Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam (3.6 per cent), Deputy Prime Minister Auntin Charnvirakul (3.2 per cent) and Somkid Jatusripitak (2.4 per cent).

The national authority has been ordered to pay Bt1.9 billion to its Bangkok counterpart after violating contracts related to the operation of an expressway section during a three-month period last year.

Departing Deputy Transport Minister Pailin Chuchottaworn said that the dispute should be dealt with in “the best benefits of expressway users and the public”.

Sompong will be effectively Opposition Leader since Pheu Thai is the largest party lined up against the government.

He said opposition MPs would start scrutinising the government during the House of Representatives debate in September on its Budget statement for the next fiscal year.

“We will look carefully at how the budget is spent,” Sompong said. “Next, there will be a no-confidence debate around the end of the year,” he added, without specifying precisely which aspects of government policy would be targeted.

Sompong questioned a remark by Prayut that he did not want his government to be “overthrown” by Parliament, saying Parliament was unlikely to bring any government down.

However, he added: “It all depends on the government. The people will see for themselves [how the government performs]. The PM should be hard-working.”

The 78-year-old was speaking shortly after being elected unopposed as the new Pheu Thai leader at the party’s general meeting.

The veteran politician was asked to comment on media reports that Pheu Thai patriarch Thaksin Shinawatra was planning to wash his hands of Thai politics for good. He said he could not answer that because he had not been in touch with the former premier for some time.

“Admittedly, the party was created by Thaksin,” Sompong said, “but people in the party can now work by themselves.”

Thaksin, who was ousted from power in the 2006 military coup, has lived in exile overseas.

He left the country in 2008, shortly before the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division on Political Office Holders sentenced him to two years in jail for abusing his power while serving as prime minister.

Arrest warrants were later issued for him in connection with other criminal cases against him stemming from his time as head of government.

Chiang Mai member of Parliament Sompong, 78, will also serve as opposition leader in the House of Representatives, as Pheu Thai is the largest party in the opposition camp.

He was elected unopposed at the party’s general meeting held at its headquarters. About 400 party MPs and members attended the meeting.

Anudith Nakornthap, a 54-year-old Bangkok MP, was elected the party’s new secretary-general. His rise to the key post was also in keeping with expectations.

Anusorn Iamsa-ard was elected the party’s new spokesman.

A total of 29 executive members were elected at the party’s general meeting on Friday. These included 15 deputy party leaders and seven deputy secretaries-general.

Phumtham Wechayachai, who stepped down as Pheu Thai secretary-general recently, said on Friday that changes to the executive board were necessary to help move the party forward.

The veteran politician said that he would remain with the party and serve as the new leader’s adviser on legislative affairs.