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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40024268

Move Forward upbeat on sweeping up Bangkok seats in general election

MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2023

The opposition Move Forward Party said it is confident it will capture all 33 Bangkok House seats in the upcoming general election.

Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat said on Monday that he based this announcement on the feedback the party received from recent visits to several areas in the capital, namely Bang Kapi, Thon Buri and Yaowarat.

He said the biggest sign was the warm welcome he and tentative Move Forward candidates received when they visited Yaowarat or Bangkok’s Chinatown on Sunday.

“People gave us a warm welcome and provided us with moral support as well as wished us electoral victory,” Pita said.

“This backs our belief that we will win all 33 Bangkok seats.”

The general election has tentatively been set for May 7 provided the incumbent House of Representatives is not dissolved before it completes its four-year term on March 22.

Pita said his party’s election slogan, “Good Politics, Good Economy, Good Future”, indicates that Move Forward does not just want to change the government but also change the country for the better.

“We need to tackle issues at the source by amending the Constitution to prevent the ‘3Ps’ from returning to power,” Pita said, referring to the brothers in arms PM General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Deputy PM General Prawit Wongsuwan and Interior Minister Anupong “Pock” Paochinda.

Pita also said his party will seek to improve state welfare for poor people from birth to old age and seek to support small businesses. He added that Move Forward will field candidates who are young and experts in different fields.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40024227

Pheu Thai launches campaign in Bangkok’s Chinatown ahead of CNY

SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 2023

Paetongtarn “Ung Ing” Shinawatra, chief of Pheu Thai Party’s Family Project, and property tycoon Srettha Thaivisin made their first campaign stop together in Bangkok’s Yaowarat area on Saturday.

It is believed that both of them will be nominated as the opposition party’s prime ministerial candidates for the upcoming general election.

Srettha, who is president of top real-estate developer Sansiri, spoke to many business and community leaders in the area. The discussions were mostly focused on economic and inequality issues.

During the chat, Gold Traders Association President Jitti Tangsitpakdee advised Pheu Thai to come up with a plan to make Yaowarat Road more attractive to tourists.

Srettha responded by saying though Yaowarat Road is already popular among tourists, it needs to be further developed with the support of the Tourism and Sports Ministry and the Thai Hotels Association.

Visit Limprana, the owner of spice distribution company Nguan Soon, also said that closing Yaowarat’s street market every Monday was affecting food hawkers badly. He said the street should be closed for cleaning once a month instead.

Paetongtarn said Yaowarat Road’s development should be well-planned and gradual.

“Pheu Thai is paying close attention to people’s livelihoods and the economy, alongside politics,” she said, adding that the party can start working on some issues immediately.

She also told voters in the area that they can be confident the party will choose high-quality candidates to participate in the upcoming general election, which is tentatively scheduled for May 7.

The Pheu Thai team also stopped off to pay their respects at the Kuan Yim Shrine in Samphanthawong district and the Wat Mangkon Kamalawat temple in Pom Prap Sattru Phai district.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40024197

Democrat credits party’s ministers for allocating funds to livestock farmers in deep South

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2023

The allocation of 1.5 billion baht to a government project that encourages cow raising by residents of the southern border region is the brainchild of Deputy Prime Minister Jurin Laksanawisit and Agriculture Minister Chalermchai Srion, a Democrat Party official said on Friday.

Metee Arun, deputy spokesman of the ruling coalition member, thanked Jurin and Chalermchai for being instrumental in providing funding from the Department of Livestock Development’s Farmer Aid Fund to the Southern Border Cowboys project, which aims to have 50,000 cows raised in the southern border provinces.

The spokesman said that the project is a part of efforts to turn the Muslim-majority border region into a national hub for halal food.

“This will help improve the well-being of farmers and animal raisers in the southern border region, while increasing their incomes and upgrading their quality of life,” Metee said.

The spokesman said on Friday that when farmers have access to funds for raising cattle, they can earn a better livelihood. He said it was the Democrat Party’s policy to improve the quality of life of people in the southern border region, as well as throughout the country.

Jurin, who doubles as the commerce minister, is also the Democrat leader and Chalermchai is the party’s secretary-general.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40024167

BOT, credit bureau warn against scrapping debtor blacklist

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2023

The Bank of Thailand and the National Credit Bureau (NCB) on Thursday said they would oppose any political party’s plan to scrap the NCB’s credit blacklist.

Opposition from a senior BOT official and the NCB chief came after the Chart Pattana Kla Party issued election posters with a photo of party leader Korn Chatikavanij accompanied by the slogan “To abolish bureau blacklist, to overhaul credit system”.

However, Korn had previously explained that his party’s policy is for banks to use a “credit score” system instead of the NCB blacklist when assessing customers who apply for loans.

Korn, a former finance minister himself, explained that new loan criteria are required because millions of Thais have been blacklisted by the bureau after failing to make debt repayments amid the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis.

Korn said the credit bureau has begun collecting credit-score data but financial institutions still prefer the blacklist when considering loan requests.

The credit score system should include data on debtors’ incomes and expenses, he added. For example, a Grab Food rider who works 10 hours per day every day should receive a higher credit score to reflect his/her diligence in seeking income.

Apparently based on a misunderstanding of the campaign signs, Tharit Punpiamrat, BOT assistant governor, said the BOT disagreed with scrapping the NCB credit blacklist.

Tharit said the NCB’s credit information acted as a grade book for debtors that directly reflected their performance.

He said wiping the blacklist would also undermine the credibility of the Thai banking system while borrowers would find it harder to obtain loans if credit information disappeared from the system.

Surapol Opassatien, managing director of the NCB, said the finance system would be affected if the blacklist was wiped as banks would lack information for considering loans.

Related story:

Thailand needs credit-score system as millions blacklisted for loans: Korn

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40024165

Second reading of cannabis bill stalled as large numbers of MPs skip meeting

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2023

The House of Secretariat on Thursday released figures that showed MPs of Pheu Thai, Palang Pracharath and Democrat parties topped the list of those skipping a meeting on Wednesday, leading to disruption in the second reading of the cannabis bill.

The meeting on Wednesday on the second reading of the marijuana and hemp bill lasted for only 22 minutes and was adjourned because there were only 203 MPs present, less than the quorum.

The bill has been proposed by the Public Health Ministry, controlled by the Bhumjaithai Party, but both the Pheu Thai and Democrat parties are opposed to it.

On Thursday, the House Secretariat disclosed that 86 out of 121 Pheu Thai MPs were absent from the meeting and the missing MPs constituted 71.07% of the party’s lawmakers.

Those missing included party leader Cholnan Srikaew, party secretary-general Prasert Chanruangthong and deputy party leader Sutin Klungsang.

The House Secretariat said 35 out of 79 PPRP MPs, or 44.3%, were absent from the meeting. They included chief coalition whip Nirote Sunthornlekha, Justice Minister Somsak Thepsutin, Deputy Finance Minister Santi Promphat, Education Minister Trinuch Thienthong, and Industry Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit.

A total of 32 out of 50 Democrat MPs, or 64%, were absent from the meeting. They included party leader Jurin Laksanawisit and Deputy Public Health Minister Satit Pitutacha.

Twenty-two out of 45 Move Forward Party MPs, or 48.88%, were absent, including party leader Pita Limjaroenrat.

Six or half of 12 Chart Thai Pattana Party were absent, including party leader and Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa.

Even nine of 62 Bhumjaithai Party MPs were absent. Ironically, party leader Anutin, who was supposed to push for the bill, was absent.

Other parties whose MPs were absent included Settakij Thai (7 out of 11 missing), and Seri Ruam Thai (5 out of 10 missing). MPs of most micro parties also skipped the meeting, including the Chart Pattana Kla Party.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40024146

Bhumjaithai Party tops political donations amid Thai election countdown

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2023

The Bhumjaithai Party headed by Deputy PM and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul topped the list of party donations in November, as the countdown to a general election began.

Bhumjaithai received 26 million baht from 85 donors, outshining the opposition-leading Pheu Thai as well as the United Thai Nation Party of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

According to Election Commission data, the top donors to Bhumjaithai in November were:

– Nam Kam Construction Ltd Part with 10 million baht

– Narathep Amarangkura (3 million baht)

– Thasanee Photaros (2 million baht)

– Kamphol Asavachoke (2 million baht)

– Supattha Sontaeng (2 million baht)

– Thawat Benjapolchai (2 million baht)

– BSC Operations Group (1 million baht)

– Tanavis 2020 Co Ltd (1 million baht)

– Boonsong Sirimaskasem (1 million baht)

Anutin has announced he will be Bhumjainthai’s sole prime ministerial candidate for the election, which is tentatively scheduled for May 7.

Pheu Thai meanwhile received donations to the tune of 16 million baht in November.

Its top nine donors were:

– Pongsak Raktapongpaisarn, a Pheu Thai core member, with 4 million baht

– Jutharat Menasvet, a close friend of Khunying Pojaman Damapong (3 million baht)

– Puangphet Chunla-iad, Pheu Thai’s Bangkok election director (2 million baht)

– Sermsak Pongpanit, former Pheu Thai minister (1 million baht)

United Thai Nation, which Prayut joined recently to seek another term, received three million baht from three donors:

– Chaicharn Upaphan, managing director of TPS Glass Coating Co, 1 million baht

– AYW Corporation Co Ltd (1 million baht)

– EN Soft Co Ltd (1 million baht)

Other parties that received donations in November included:

– Kla Party (800,000 baht)

– Democrat Party (598,000 baht)

– Move Forward Party (251,591 baht)

– Thai Civilized Party (250,000 baht)

– New Path Party (200,000 baht)

– Prachachart Party (50,000 baht)

Palang Pracharath led by Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwan is banned from receiving donations due to its status as the ruling party.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40024128

Democrat Party cries foul over late-fine exemption for Sino-Thai

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2023

The Democrat Party on Wednesday cried foul over the House Secretariat’s amendment of a construction contract to exempt the contractor from all late construction fines, instead of exempting it only for the Covid-19 pandemic period.

Democrat secretary-general Tawee Sodsong said the Secretariat for the House of Representatives should have isolated the Covid-19 pandemic period from the number of days Sino-Thai Engineering & Construction Plc failed to complete construction of the Parliament Complex.

Instead, the secretariat freed the company from paying any late completion fine.

Tawee noted that the original contract set the completion date for construction of the complex on December 31, 2020.

The original contract stipulated that if Sino-Thai failed to finish by the deadline, it would be fined on a daily basis at the rate of 0.10% of the project’s value, or about 12.28 million a day, plus the cost of hiring foremen and project advisors for 332,140 baht (about 12.61 million baht) per day.

Tawee said the fines should be counted from January 1, 2021.

On July 1, 2022, Sino-Thai asked the House Secretariat to check and approve its construction work. The committee in charge of the project, however, refused to certify completion of the project, saying there were still defects the contractor needed to fix.

Tawee said as of Wednesday, Sino-Thai could not declare the project completed, so the total delay was 778 days.

Tawee said Sino-Thai refused to pay late completion fines on the grounds that it had sought and received exemption from fines in accordance with a Cabinet resolution made on August 3, 2021. The resolution stated that the contractors affected by the Covid-19 pandemic should be fined at the “zero rate”.

Instead of restricting Sino-Thai’s exemption from fines to the pandemic period, Tawee said, the House Secretariat amended the contract to extend the “zero rate” past the pandemic period.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40024114

Move Forward pledges better welfare for military, end to conscription if it comes to power

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2023

The Move Forward Party on Wednesday promised to improve military welfare and abolish conscription as well as end the abuse of low-ranking soldiers if it led the next ruling coalition.

Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat made the promises in his open letter to the military to mark Royal Thai Armed Forces Day, which falls on January 18.

In the letter, Pita said his party had been emphasising the need to reform the military as the party used the name of the now-defunct Future Forward Party.

He said military reform should be treated as a national agenda and the reform must separate the Armed Forces from national politics to end the vicious circle of coups d’etat. He said the Armed Forces should be transparent and accountable to the public, in addition to making them compact and capable of responding to new national threats in time.

Pita said Move Forward sees reform of the Armed Forces as a must because the party wants to see compulsorily recruited military privates have a better quality of life.

He said his party also saw the need for reform because military privates, who volunteered to serve the country, have been abused, been given inadequate living allowances, while having an insecure future apart from being assigned to carry out work not related to military affairs.

Pita said the party also saw that military privates had been abused by commanders who do not respect their human dignity.

The Move Forward leader said some generals, who had turned politicians in the current government, and the network of generals who have vested interests in the Armed Forces, had tried to label Move Forward as enemies of the Armed Forces.

“But, actually, we stand on the opposite side of the generals who destroyed democracy by staging a coup and are doing everything to perpetuate their political power,” Pita said in the letter.

He said his party is the enemy of generals who abuse power to suppress people whom they should protect and the party stands on the opposite side of the generals who push their personal interest with tax payers’ money and refuse to come under public scrutiny.

He said that Move Forward would like to make the following promises on the occasion of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Day – if the party wins the next election:

● End compulsory conscription

● Privates will not be forced to masturbate and jump into cesspools and there will be a serious human rights protection scheme

● Privates will not be cruelly punished by commanders over disciplinary matters because Move Forward will improve military rules to meet international standards

● Military inspectors of Parliament would hear complaints of junior soldiers

● Salaries and allowances of soldiers will be wired directly to their accounts so that they will not be siphoned off by commanders

● No commanders will be allowed to siphon money off from the food budget of junior soldiers

● Promotion evaluation system will be reformed so that any deserving candidate can be promoted without nepotism

● Missions unrelated to military affairs will be eliminated

● Soldiers will no longer be dispatched to serve as personal servants at residences of generals

● Military court for general cases will be abolished for soldiers and they will be tried in civilian courts instead.

● Military will be separated from politics.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40024112

Prawit ‘ready to be PM’, pledges to boost welfare

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2023

Deputy PM and Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) leader Prawit Wongsuwon has vowed to raise the monthly state welfare payment to 700 baht and says he is ready to be prime minister if his party returns to government after the next election.

Prawit was speaking on Tuesday at a press conference to unveil the party’s strategies and policy platform for the election, scheduled for May.

The event was joined by party executives including Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin, PPRP chief strategist; Industry Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit, PPRP deputy leader, Education Minister Trinuch Thienthong, and Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn.

Prawit said the party’s priority is to increase state welfare scheme benefits that PPRP has spearheaded over the past four years as the ruling party in the government coalition.

The state welfare card currently offers 300 baht per month to holders with annual income of less than 30,000 baht and 200 baht for those earning 30,000 to 100,000 baht per year. The credit can be spent at participating shops and on transport and utility fees. Around 21.5 million Thais applied for the cards in the latest registration period.

“The current benefits are not enough to cover rising living costs in the current economy,” said Prawit.

“The party’s MPs have surveyed their constituencies and found that people need an additional 500 baht to buy consumer products and pay utility bills.”

The deputy PM pledged to implement the policy as soon as the new government is formed, explaining it would be funded by the already approved fiscal 2023 budget. He estimated that the policy will cost the government around 12 billion baht per month or 150 billion baht per year.

PPRP would also roll out measures to promote the economy, develop communities, take care of vulnerable people, and maximise the country’s competitiveness, he added.

PPRP also announced its new slogan, which translates as: “Rising above conflict, solving all problems, and improving all sectors of Thailand”.

When asked if PPRP would work with other parties, Prawit said the party would ignore past differences and welcome everyone to discuss future cooperation.

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Smiling Prawit says PPRP, Ruam Thai Sang Chart virtually the same party

Prawit becomes caretaker prime minister

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40024026

Merging may be best bet for small parties in new two-ballot voting system: poll

SUNDAY, JANUARY 15, 2023

Most Thai voters support the idea of small political parties merging together to cope with the two-ballot electoral system, a new survey shows.

The two-ballot system means voters will be required to cast one vote for their constituency MP and another for their preferred party.

The new system also increases the number of constituency MPs from 350 to 400 and reduces party-list MPs from 150 to 100. Party-list MPs will be calculated from the percentage of votes cast for parties.

The survey was conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida) from January 9 to 12 among 1,310 respondents nationwide. The respondents, aged 18 and above, came from different levels of income and educational backgrounds.

Here are some questions and responses:

What do you think small political parties should do to cope with the two-ballot system?

• 46.26% Merge with other parties

• 37.56% Continue without merging

• 15.34% Leave politics

• 0.84% No comment

What’s your advice for small parties that choose to merge?

• 61.55% Merge with big parties

• 27.39% Merge with medium-sized parties

• 11.06% Merge with small parties

What’s your opinion on the newly merged Chart Pattana Kla Party? (More than one choice allowed)

• 46.87% It is a good match

• 30.99% The party will get more MPs in the upcoming general election

• 19.39% It is a temporary merger for the upcoming general election

• 14.50% It is not a good match

• 9.31% The merger will not help increase the number of MPs

• 5.80% Former Kla Party leader Korn Chatikavanij will benefit from this merger

• 5.34% Former Chart Pattana Party leader Suwat Liptapanlop will benefit from this merger

What’s your opinion on a possible merger between Thai Sang Thai and Sang Anakot Thai Parties? (More than one choice allowed)

• 50.15% It is a good match

• 31.76% Parties will gain more MPs in the upcoming general election

• 20.08% It is a temporary merger for the upcoming general election

• 14.35% It is not a good match

• 10.76% Thai Sang Thai Party leader Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan will benefit from this merger

• 8.32% The merger will not help increase the number of MPs

• 3.66% Sang Anakot Thai Party leader Somkid Jatusripitak will benefit from this merger.

Related stories:

• Paetongtarn, Pheu Thai still most popular in Thailand
• Most voters want Prayut to dissolve House before yearend: survey
• Most Thais believe sexual violence is not just physical: survey