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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/politics/40019245

The Thai Sang Thai Party has proposed setting up a labour union for freelancers and gig workers, who it said will be an economic driver during the “perfect storm”.

Thuntee Sukchotrat, the party’s digital transformation chief, gave a talk on gig workers at the “Thailand Metaverse Expo 2022” in Bangkok on Saturday.

Thuntee said he had invited freelancers in 11 occupations to vote to establish a union for gig workers at https://www.d-vote.com/thuntee/95.

He explained that the economic situation is worsening, with Thailand’s GDP growth now the lowest in Asean. The country was also lacking new investment and could not compete with neighbouring countries in exports.

He added that Thailand faces a labour shortage crisis as society ages, while people are being hit by rising manufacturing and living costs because of Covid-19 and high interest rates.

Small organisations and workers were the first to suffer, said Thuntee, so the solution was to support them by raising their income, reducing their costs, and empowering their stability through technology and innovations.

The gig economy will become more important as its strength is flexibility between employers and workers, he said. Gig workers can get jobs anywhere while companies do not have to hire them full-time.

However, gig workers face extra risks of unstable incomes, security and health benefits, he said. And many are not eligible to receive loans from banks or financial institutions.

Setting up a gig-worker labour union would provide them with welfare and benefits while also setting a minimum wage for each category to prevent undercutting, he said. It would also help in negotiating fair conditions with employers.

Moreover, a union would offer training to improve the skills and standard of the gig workforce, Thuntee said.

He said his party’s idea is to liberate and empower “small people” as they are the foundation of the economy.

Thai Sang Thai was formed late last year with former Pheu Thai chief strategist Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan as chairwoman.

Published : August 23, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/politics/40019241

The Constitutional Court has the final say on whether Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha should step down on Wednesday, government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said on Tuesday.

He made this remark after the opposition filed a petition with the court on Monday, asking for a ruling on Prayut’s tenure.

The court is scheduled to hold its weekly meeting on Wednesday, but it is not known if the judges will take up this petition for consideration on the same day.

Anucha said the ruling will be in line with the law, because the law of the land applies to everybody, including the prime minister. He added that Prayut cannot interfere with the court’s ruling.

“Hence, we would like to ask people to have faith in the law, which is an important mechanism for coexistence in society and to help the country remain peaceful,” he said.

Anucha Burapachaisri

Anucha advised people to avoid participating in anti-government rallies across Bangkok as it may spark a new Covid-19 wave and will be a violation of the emergency decree.

He also asked motorists to avoid using routes where the protests are being held, such as the Lan Khon Mueang Town Square, Democracy Monument, Ratchaprasong intersection and Government House.

Critics are demanding that Prayut, who doubles as defence minister, step down before Wednesday when they say his eight-year term as stipulated in the Constitution expires.

Opposition MPs have submitted a petition for the Constitutional Court to rule on when Prayut’s eight-year tenure should expire.

Article 158 of the Constitution states that: “The prime minister shall not hold office for more than eight years in total, whether or not consecutively.”

However, the start date for Prayut’s eight-year tenure is widely disputed.

Many insist that Prayut’s term started when he first assumed premiership on August 24, 2014, after ousting Yingluck Shinawatra’s elected government in a military putsch led by him in May.

Others say his tenure began when the current Constitution was enforced on April 6, 2017, while a third group claims Prayut’s premiership actually began on June 9, 2019, when he was elected.

Published : August 23, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/politics/40019211

The opposition’s petition, seeking a ruling on the tenure of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, was on Monday submitted to the Constitutional Court.

Officials of the House Secretariat submitted the petition to the court at 10.30am on Monday.

Earlier, opposition MPs had submitted the petition to House Speaker Chuan Leekpai to forward it to the Constitutional Court for a ruling on whether Prayut, on Wednesday, would complete his eight-year term as PM as stipulated by the current Constitution.

The Constitutional Court is scheduled to hold a weekly meeting on Wednesday. It is not known if the court would take up the petition for consideration that day.

If the court decides to consider the petition, it also will have to make a decision on whether to suspend Prayut from duty pending a ruling on the petition.

The opposition insists that Prayut’s stint as PM should be counted from the time he first assumed the role on August 24, 2014, after leading a military coup in May that year.

The government, however, argues that Prayut’s tenure should be considered only from the time the current Constitution came into force on April 6, 2017. According to a third point of view, Prayut’s tenure should be counted only from the time he was sworn in as prime minister on June 9, 2019, following the general election in March that year.

The opposition and anti-government movements have started stepping up pressure for Prayut to step down ahead of Wednesday when they regard Prayut as reaching the eight-year limit.

On Sunday, the Ratsadon group and 38 other organisations demanded that Prayut step down. Political activists Jatuporn Prompan and Nititorn Lamlua started a rally at the Lan Khon Muang in front of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s head office on Sunday to start the countdown to Wednesday.

Published : August 22, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/politics/40019193

Most Thais believe Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha should step down on Wednesday, a recent survey revealed.

The “People’s Voice”, a network of media outlets and academics, held a mobile phone vote about Prayut’s tenure on Saturday and Sunday. Of the 374,063 votes collected, 93.17 per cent voted “no” to Prayut serving as PM for longer than eight years, while 6.83 per cent said “yes”.

Of the votes collected, 369,484 were cast locally while 4,579 came from outside Thailand.

In response to the overwhelming “no” votes, the network said, “it is up to the Constitution Court to decide whether Prayut can stay in office after August 24”.

It added that this vote aims to allow people, who are owners of their sovereignty, to share their opinions.

Critics are demanding that Prayut, who doubles as defence minister, step down before Wednesday when they say his eight-year term as stipulated in the Constitution expires.

Opposition MPs have submitted a petition for the Constitutional Court to rule on when Prayut’s eight-year tenure should expire.

Article 158 of the Constitution states that: “The prime minister shall not hold office for more than eight years in total, whether or not consecutively.”

However, the start date for Prayut’s eight-year tenure is widely disputed.

Many insist that Prayut’s term started when he first assumed premiership on August 24, 2014, after ousting Yingluck Shinawatra’s elected government in a military putsch led by him in May. Others say his tenure began when the current Constitution was enforced on April 6, 2017, while a third group claims Prayut’s premiership actually began on June 9, 2019, when he was elected.

The People’s Voice network comprises academics from eight universities, namely Thammasat, National Institute of Development Administration (Nida), Srinakharinwirot, Rangsit, Burapha, Chiang Mai, Prince of Songkla, and Ubon Ratchathani University — plus eight online media outlets including Thai Rath TV, Workpoint News, PPTV, the Standard, the Matter, the Momentum, and the Reporters.

Published : August 22, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/politics/40019181

Members of the “People’s Union Party” gathered at Bangkok’s Lan Khon Mueang Town Square on Sunday evening to hold a rally entitled “Countdown to 8 years of Prayut Administration”.

The protest was led by former red-shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan and lawyer Nitithorn Lamlua.

The group called on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to step down as he will have been in power for eight years on Wednesday (August 24) and will be violating the Constitution which prohibits anyone from serving as PM for more than eight years.

During his speech on Sunday, Jatuporn thanked Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt for allowing the group to gather at the town square and promised to honour the governor’s request and not spend the night there.

“On Wednesday night, which is the last day that Prayut can legitimately be in office, we plan to rally all night. So, we will move to Government House instead,” he said. “If Prayut stays in office after Wednesday, he will be referred to as the ‘unlawful prime minister’.”

Jatuporn also denied that the protest aimed to kick out Prayut to make way for exiled former PM Thaksin Shinawatra. “I don’t know if Thaksin can return after Prayut is out. Our focus right now is to boot Prayut out after his term is up according to the Constitution,” he said.

The protesters dispersed at around 9pm.

Meanwhile, police have announced that all roads leading to the prime minister’s office in Government House will be closed to traffic.

Police on Sunday declared a ban on vehicles entering sections of Phitsanulok, Rama V and Luk Luang roads, as well as Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue from Sunday to Wednesday.

Apart from Jatuporn’s group, two other groups have also announced they will hold activities near Government House to demand Prayut step down.

Article 158 of the Constitution states that: “The prime minister shall not hold office for more than eight years in total, whether or not consecutively.”

However, the start date for Prayut’s eight-year tenure is disputed.

Many people insist the eight-year term started when Prayut first assumed the premiership on August 24, 2014 – following the military coup he led in May that year.

Others say his tenure began when the current Constitution came into force on April 6, 2017. A third group believes it should be counted from when Prayut assumed the premiership on June 9, 2019, following the general election in March that year.

Published : August 22, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/politics/40019169

Only one in 10 respondents said they would vote for a government party-list candidate in the next general election, according to a new poll by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA).

NIDA conducted the poll from August 1-5 on 1,312 voters aged 18 and over from various backgrounds and occupations.

Asked how they would cast their two ballots at the next election – one for their constituency MP and the other for the party-list – 44.82 per cent said they were “not sure”, 38.03 per cent said they would vote for party-list and constituency candidates from the same party. Of the rest, 16.85 per cent said they would not vote for two candidates from the same party while 0.30 per cent declined to answer.

The two-ballot system has been introduced to elect 400 constituency MPs and 100 party-list MPs at the next election.

Asked whether they would vote to elect a new MP in their constituency:

– 30.41 per cent said “definitely not”

– 11.97 said “probably not”

– 28.28 per cent said “definitely”

– 19.21 per cent said “probably”

Asked how they would vote in the party-list election:

– 34.99 per cent said “not sure”

– 32.39 per cent said for opposition parties

– 21.34 per cent said for new parties

– 10.82 per cent said for government coalition parties

The rest declined to answer.

The Nida Poll said 33.53 per cent of respondents came from the Northeast, 26.30 per cent from central provinces, 13.57 per cent from the South and 8.61 per cent from Bangkok.

Published : August 21, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/politics/40019168

Pro-democracy protesters on Sunday called on Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha to step down by Wednesday (August 24) to avoid overstaying his eight-year term limit.

Members of the United Front led a march from Sanam Luang to Democracy Monument in Bangkok, where they issued a statement.

In it, they said the 2014 coup-makers had perpetuated their rule by drafting the 2017 Constitution to have Prayut remain in power.

The statement also cited Article 158 of the charter, which says: “The prime minister shall not hold office for more than eight years in total, whether or not consecutively.”

It said Prayut became prime minister on August 24, 2014, meaning his constitutional term was due to end on Wednesday.

The statement also called on the Constitutional Court to rule on Prayut’s tenure limit before Wednesday and demanded that the PM halt his work until the ruling is delivered.

The protesters also urged Parliament to speed up charter amendments to “switch off” the power of senators to vote for a prime minister. The group said Article 272 of the Constitution must be amended before the next general election, which will be called in March at the latest.

Main opposition party Pheu Thai has announced that it will seek a ruling from the Constitutional Court on Prayut’s tenure before Wednesday.

A NIDA public opinion poll of 1,312 respondents conducted earlier this month found that almost two-thirds wanted Prayut to leave office by August 23, the eighth anniversary of his appointment as PM after leading the 2014 military coup.

Published : August 21, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/politics/40019141

The public on Saturday began voting on whether Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha should stay on in office after August 24.

The “People’s Voice”, a network of academics and media outlets, is holding the mobile phone vote amid a dispute over Prayut’s term limit.

Voting started at 6am on Saturday and will end at midnight on Sunday. The result will be released on Monday.

People can vote by scanning a QR code from participating media outlets. The QR code links to the voting website, where members of the public can vote on whether Gen Prayut “should” or “should not” serve as prime minister longer than eight years.

Critics are demanding that PM Prayut, who also doubles as defence minister, step down before August 24 (Wednesday), when they say his eight-year term as stipulated in the Constitution expires.

Opposition MPs have submitted a petition for the Constitutional Court to rule on when Prayut’s eight-year tenure should expire.

Article 158 of the Constitution states that: “The prime minister shall not hold office for more than eight years in total, whether or not consecutively.”

However, the start date for Prayut’s eight-year tenure is disputed.

Many people insist the eight-year term started when Prayut first assumed the premiership on August 24, 2014 – following the military coup he led in May that year.

Others say his tenure began when the current Constitution came into force on April 6, 2017. A third group views that it should be counted from when Prayut assumed the premiership on June 9, 2019, following the general election in March that year.

The People’s Voice network is composed of academics from eight universities — Thammasat, National Institute of Development Administration (Nida), Srinakharinwirot, Rangsit, Burapha, Chiang Mai, Prince of Songkla, and Ubon Ratchathani University — plus eight online media outlets including Thai Rath TV, Workpoint News, PPTV, The Standard, The Matter, The Momentum, and The Reporters.

Published : August 20, 2022

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/politics/40019047

The Ombudsman of Thailand has decided to reject a petition on the tenure of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, saying it has no authority to consider the contentious issue or seek a ruling from the Constitutional Court.

Ombudsman’s Office secretary-general Keirov Kritteranon told a press conference on Thursday that the Ombubdsman decided to reject the petition from political activist Srisuwan Janya.

On August 5, Srisuwan asked the Ombudsman to consider when Prayut’s eight-year tenure would end exactly as the May 2014 coup leader had been holding the post of prime minister since he installed an interim government that year.

Srisuwan also requested the Ombudsman to send the matter to the Constitutional Court for a ruling.

Keirov said the Ombudsman had considered the petition and decided that the issue of the prime minister’s tenure was not within the power of the Ombudsman.

Keirov said the Ombudsman is empowered by the Constitution and the organic law on ombudsmen to consider and seek rulings only on disputes to do with charter-related laws.

Keirov said the power to seek a ruling by the Constitutional Court on the prime minister’s tenure depends instead on the Election Commission and speakers of the House and Senate. He said MPs and senators can petition their respective chambers’ heads to seek a ruling from the court.

While Srisuwan and the opposition felt that Prayut’s tenue should end on August 24, a House of Representatives legal team argued that his tenure technically started only on June 9, 2019, when he was appointed as prime minister by royal command under the 2017 charter. Hence, Prayut’s term will expire only in 2027, the panel maintained.

Published : August 18, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/politics/40019021

The opposition on Wednesday demanded a cut in the fiscal 2023 budget bill and called on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to step down before the end of this month when it regards his tenure as reaching the eight-year limit set by the 2017 Constitution.

The calls were made on the first day of the second reading of the budget bill.

Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith kicked off the debate of the second reading by informing the House that the budget vetting panel had trimmed down proposed spending by 7.644 billion baht and reallocated the funds to other agencies in line with national strategies and master development plans of the government.

Arkhom said the items that saw cuts in proposed spending included projects that were regarded as being unnecessary, such as the budget for training, seminars, hiring of advisers and foreign trips.

He said other projects that were removed from the budget bills included items that were unlikely to be carried out within the fiscal year and projects that were regarded as not suitable for the current economic situation.

He said some projects were removed from the budget bill because the budget panel saw that their money could come from off-budget financing.

Arkhom told the House that the budget reallocations were made to support economic recovery following the Covid crisis and the reallocations were aimed at seeking sustainable economic growth under the 3.185-trillion-baht budget.

The opposition alleged during the debate that much of the proposed spending was aimed at buying political support ahead of the next general election next year. The opposition demanded a cut, saying the 3.185-trillion-baht budget would be too high and would be too much of a financial burden on the next government.

Parit Wacharasindhu, Move Forward Party MP, said the overall budget amount should be cut by five per cent as many projects were unnecessary and not fair.

Parit alleged that more than half of road and water management projects would be carried out in provinces that are political strongholds of the parties that control the related ministries.

For example, he said seven provinces would receive budget allocations under the Rural Road Department that would constitute up to 25 per cent of all budget of the department.

He said seven other provinces would receive a water management budget that would constitute up to 36 per cent of the entire water resources management budget.

“The question is whether the government allocated the budget fairly based on public grievances or in its political interest,” Parit said.

Prachachart party-list MP Tawee Sodsong said the proposed spending should be cut further because a lot of the budget was being diverted only to provinces where coalition partners have MPs.

Pheu Thai MP Pichet Chuamuangphan said Prayut should step down as prime minister before his tenure ends on August 23 as the country could suffer serious damage if he stays put in office.

Pichet alleged that the Prayut government had run up the biggest public debt in Thailand’s history.

“The next government deserves sympathy because it would have to repay debt created by the former coup leaders,” Pichet said.

Pheu Thai MP Jirayu Huangsup said the fiscal 2023 budget bill should be cut by up to 29 per cent because the state should not borrow more. He said the state is now in a serious financial situation but the 2023 budget was prepared as a last shot of the government to win political support ahead of the next election.

Published : August 17, 2022

By : THE NATION