Pheu Thai kicks off campaign for votes with event in Udon Thani
SUNDAY, JANUARY 15, 2023
Pheu Thai Party is kickstarting its election campaign by holding its first event in the Isaan province of Udon Thani on Sunday.
The event, starting at 4.30pm at the Tung Sri Muang field, will see Paetongtarn Shinawatra presenting the party’s policies and hearing residents’ complaints.
Similar events will be held in other provinces, and once Parliament is dissolved to make way for the May general election, Pheu Thai will start campaigning in Bangkok.
The party is hoping to cash in on its popularity and win by a landslide.
Paetongtarn is tipped to become the next prime minister if her party wins the election, which is tentatively scheduled for May 7.
The youngest daughter of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra chairs Pheu Thai’s advisory committee on public inclusion and innovation and is head of the Pheu Thai Family project.
Pheu Thai meet Chinese trade delegation to build bilateral ties ahead of polls
SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 2023
Opposition Pheu Thai Party executives met members of the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Committee of International Department on Friday to discuss bilateral ties in trade and investment in the post-Covid era.
Pheu Thai leader Chonlanon Srikaew welcomed the delegates led by Chen Zhou, deputy chief of the department, on Friday. The team arrived in Thailand earlier this week and met Deputy PM General Prawit Wongsuwan on Thursday to discuss China’s investment plan in the Eastern Economic Corridor.
At the Friday meeting, Zhou said he realised the potential of Thailand’s Otop products in the Chinese market back when he had visited Chiang Mai as director-general of the Commerce Department.
He said he hoped to restore trade ties by promoting export, import and investment between the two countries now that the Covid-19 situation has improved.
Zhou also promised that China will boost the import of agricultural goods from Thailand, promote mutual tourism and support the transfer of technology and innovation, especially in the digital economy.
In response, Chonlanon said that Thailand has maintained positive ties with China for several decades, especially during the Thai Rak Thai and Pheu Thai administrations.
The opposition leader added that in the upcoming general election, the party intended to use the promotion of Thai-Chinese relations as one of the main policies to attract voters who want to see more bilateral cooperation. He said he believes Thais have a strong bond with the Chinese people and consider China a sister country.
“Pheu Thai has prepared policies to drive more trade agreements, promote investment, mutual import-export, tourism, as well as the exchange of technology, innovation and culture with China for the benefit of people of both countries,” he said.
A total of 176 MPs from both the ruling coalition and opposition parties have petitioned House Speaker Chuan Leekpai to take action against the caterer who arranges food for parliamentarians on their meeting days.
The lawmakers wanted the catering company to be fired, saying the quality and quantity of food had worsened, with limited choices of Muslim food. In addition, just last week there were small fires in the canteen twice on the same day.
The complaint from the MPs said the fires pointed to a lack of preparedness of the catering company with regard to safety.
The lawmakers also expressed their dissatisfaction with the work of a House committee tasked with selecting the food caterer, whose decision they said affected their right to quality food and beverage services.
“Please take action in keeping with your duty as the House speaker in protecting the basic rights of MPs,” the group said in their complaint to Chuan.
The group also wanted to know the outcome of an investigation into allegations that the selection of the food caterer was mired in lobbying and kickbacks.
None of the MPs from the opposition Move Forward Party were among the 176 MPs who signed the petition.
Watchara Petthong, a politician from the coalition Democrat Party, claimed last year that some unnamed lawmakers from Move Forward had been involved with the alleged lobbying.
In November, Democrat MP Rangsima Rodrasamee had called on Chuan to order an investigation into accusations of bribery levelled against the House panel tasked with selecting the food caterer. As a member of the selection committee, Rangsima maintained that she had never been lobbied and she did not know who had been lobbied. But she agreed that the caterer should be selected based on the quality and taste of food and hygiene.
Prayut says ties with Prawit ‘good all along’, as big brother wishes him success at new party
FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2023
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha insists his brotherly bond with Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwan is strong even though they may be drifting apart politically.
Dismissing rumours of a conflict being behind his decision to join a new political party, General Prayut said on Friday that his relationship with his brother-in-arms General Prawit “has been good all along”.
When pushed by reporters to elaborate on their political ties, Prayut responded: “Why do you want us to be in discord? Are we already in a conflict?”
Prayut went on to tell Parliament-beat reporters that he has never had any conflicts with Prawit, his long-time senior colleague and former supervisor in the Army.
The deputy PM is also leader of the ruling Palang Pracharath Party.
When asked if he has met with Prawit, Prayut retorted: “When I have the time. I can’t go every day. I have my own life and have to spend time with my family. You can’t view everything from a political angle.”
Earlier on Friday, Prawit’s Facebook post said it was now clear that Prayut would leave Palang Pracharath, which nominated him as its sole PM candidate in the 2019 general election, to join the backup party, Ruam Thai Sang Chart (United Thai Nation).
“I once said ‘3Ps forever’. I feel the same now. Nothing has changed at all. Now that he [Prayut] has made his decision, I have no words to explain how I’m feeling. What I can do is congratulate him and wish him success in the new political path he has chosen,” Prawit’s post read.
The Thai media has used the moniker “3Ps” in reference to the three brothers-in-arms – former Army commanders Prawit, Prayut and Interior Minister Anupong “Pock” Paochinda.
Ruam Thai Sang Chart is expected to nominate Prayut as its PM candidate for the next general election scheduled for May 7. The premier joined the 21-month-old party with much fanfare last Monday.
Joint Parliament meeting on education bill collapses for 2nd time in 2 days
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2023
A joint sitting of MPs and senators to deliberate the second reading of the education bill collapsed for the second time in two days on Wednesday after too few lawmakers registered attendance.
The collapse came a day after Tuesday’s vote on Section 7/1 of the bill was called off because not enough MPs and senators were present.
Wednesday’s vote on Section 8/1 saw 349 parliamentarians insert their ID cards to register attendance. However, some cast their vote before Parliament deputy president Pornpetch Wichitcholchai called for an official vote. As a result, Pornpetch announced he would have to clear the data so parliamentarians could register and vote again. However, only 339 MPs and senators did so, failing to meet the simple majority of both two Houses needed to form a quorum.
Opposition Pheu Thai MP Jirayu Hungsup then called for a fresh vote, which led to a dispute between opposition and coalition MPs and senators, who said Section 8/1 should be considered passed.
Piraphet Sirikul (Pheu Thai-Kalasin) informed Pornpetch that the meeting should be adjourned for failing to achieve a quorum.
Senator Somchai Sawaengkarn then rose to propose Pornpetch conduct a recount of the number of parliamentarians and votes.
But Senator Wallop Tangkhananulak rose to second Piraphet’s call for adjournment, upon which Pornpetch closed the meeting at 12.49pm.
The House of Representatives was dubbed “collapsible” by press late last year for the frequency with which meetings were adjourned and votes failed due to the lack of a quorum.
‘Unfinished business’: PM Prayut joins UTN Party in bid for 3rd term
TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2023
Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha insisted he had unfinished business as he officially joined the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party (United Thai Nation/UTN) to become its PM candidate on Monday evening.
The event at Bangkok’s Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre was hosted by UTN party leader Pirapan Salirathavibhaga and attended by UTN members as well as key political figures including former Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang, Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, Democrat MP Rangsima Rodrasamee and former Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin, who recently quit as a ruling Palang Pracharath Party MP.
Prayut thanked UTN members and told the large audience that “it is our duty to protect this sacred land and maintain the three pillars of nation, religion, the monarchy”.
He said he had no desire to be in power or to seek its benefits.
Prayut has been PM for nine years after coming to power following the coup he led as Army chief in 2014.
“I am here because I care about the people, and I want to see Thailand move forward under the democratic process with stability and security towards a prosperous future.”
Prayut said several of his missions as PM were unfinished, and he intended to complete them no matter how challenging or how much stress it would cause him. “All I have done is for the sustainable future of the country. I will leave no one behind until I hand over the country to the next generation,” he said.
“Please give me a chance to do my duties the best I can. I have only one heart, but it is big enough to love all Thais. This is my commitment,” said Prayut, before closing his speech by singing the song “Sattha” (Faith) by the rock band Stone Metal Fire.
Before going on stage, Prayut had paid the 2,000-baht fee for lifetime membership of the party.
Pirapan told Monday’s event that NTC would be a political party like no other with a focus on nation, religion, monarchy, and the people.
“Today we have more than 30,000 members. NTC will unite all Thais and end all disagreements. We can’t afford to waste time arguing when the country needs to move forward,” he said.
He added that the party would hold an extraordinary general meeting soon to nominate MP candidates for the upcoming election, which is tentatively scheduled for May 7. No date was given for when Prayut will be officially announced as the party’s PM nomination.
Prayut scheduled to leave Govt House at 1pm to attend party unveiling event
MONDAY, JANUARY 09, 2023
The Prime Minister’s Office announced that the PM will be taking a leave of absence from Government House at 1pm on Monday to attend a Ruam Thai Sang Chart (RTSC) Party event.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is scheduled to debut as an RTSC member at Bangkok’s Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QNSCC) at an event that kicks off at 5pm.
The party said other MPs planning to join RTSC will also be at the event to show their support for Prayut. The premier will lead RTSC’s election campaign during his free time and at weekends, it added.
However, a former election commissioner is calling on the Election Commission (EC) to investigate Prayut’s presence at the event, warning that it may violate election laws.
Somchai Srisutthiyakorn said if Prayut leaves his office at Government House before 4.30pm and uses his PM’s car to be whisked through Bangkok traffic, he may be breaking the law and abusing his authority to gain an advantage in the upcoming general election.
Somchai said the unveiling event may also be violating the law by serving food and drinks to attendees who are not party members or staffers. This may be seen as providing services or gifts to persuade attendees to vote for a candidate or party.
Prayut’s unveiling as PM candidate on Monday ‘may break law’
MONDAY, JANUARY 09, 2023
A former election commissioner has urged the Election Commission (EC) to investigate Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s unveiling as Ruam Thai Sang Chart (RTSC) party’s PM candidate on Monday, warning it could break the law.
Somchai Srisutthiyakorn, who served on the EC from 2013 to 2018, said that election law bans government officials from campaigning during office hours for 180 days before an election. The ban covers the use of government property such as cars and fuel.
Prayut’s unveiling event is due to be held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC) in downtown Bangkok from 5pm on Monday.
Somchai said that if Prayut leaves his office at Government House before 4.30pm and travels in his PM’s car using government staff to whisk him through traffic, he could be breaking the law by abusing his authority to gain advantage in the upcoming election.
He added that the unveiling event may also break election law by serving food and drinks to attendees who are not party members or staffers. Such action would be considered as providing services or gifts to persuade attendees to vote for a candidate or a party. Earlier, the RTSC announced that several MPs from other parties who plan to switch to the RTSC will attend the event to support Prayut.
Somchai urged the EC to keep a close eye on Monday’s event and launch an investigation if it suspects the law was broken.
The RTSC has insisted that Prayut will campaign only during his free time and at weekends.
Pheu Thai hit by sex scandal, claims of naked photos of former deputy PM
SUNDAY, JANUARY 08, 2023
Any member of Pheu Thai will be expelled from the party if he is proven to be the former deputy premier alleged to have had a sexual affair with a married woman, the opposition party’s deputy leader, Yutthapong Jarassathian, told a press conference on Sunday.
The press conference followed a bombshell claim on Saturday that a former deputy premier had had a sexual relationship with a married woman. The woman’s husband allegedly found naked photos of her with a former Pheu Thai deputy premier but faced intimidation after attempting to divorce her.
These claims were made by lawyer Sittra Biabunkerd in a Facebook post that included a photo and a message saying that a former deputy prime minister had had an affair with the wife of his client, identified by the pseudonym “Mr. Kor”.
Yutthapong told the press conference he had asked an aide who knows the lawyer to get more information. He was then informed that the “former deputy prime minister” had been a member of the Yingluck Shinawatra Cabinet.
Because of Sittra’s Facebook post everybody wants to know who the politician is, Yutthapong said.
“I have checked the list of former deputy prime ministers and found that most are between 80 and 90 years old, so they should not be capable of doing this kind of thing,” Yutthapong said, suggesting that the former deputy premiers were impotent.
Yutthapong said he also asked former deputy prime minister Yongyuth Wichaidith if he was the politician allegedly involved in the sex scandal, but Yongyuth denied it was him.
Yingluck’s government had several deputy prime ministers from Pheu Thai and its coalition partners, Yutthapong said.
He also mentioned that in the photo accompanying the lawyer’s post, the man who is partially shown (and allegedly the suspected philanderer) looks less than 60 years old.
Yutthapong asked for the media’s help, saying: “The media must find out from Sittra who [the deputy premier allegedly involved in the sex scandal] is. This issue cannot be ignored because it concerns the ethics of officeholders,” he added.
Sitta’s initial post said he had been approached by “Mr. Kor” for a legal consultation last year. The new client said his wife had become distant over the past year. As a result, he checked her mobile phone to find out why. He found photos of her with a former deputy PM. In some, they were both naked.
Sitta’s initial post went viral, accumulating more than 14,000 comments, 9,500 shares, and 103,000 reactions as of Sunday afternoon.
On Sunday, Sittra posted more information: a chat log of the woman and the alleged politician in which she said she was unavailable for sex because she had Covid-19. However, despite having the virus, she said they would dine together, according to the post.
Sittra also released more information about how he got to know “Mr Kor”, saying that after he filed for divorce from his wife, he became the victim of intimidation. As a result, he decided to go public with the case.
Sittra said he was handling the case cautiously to minimise its impact on the Pheu Thai Party.
“Everybody will know who [the politician] is for sure,” Sittra said.
Yutthapong also called on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to investigate the sex scandal.
“I would like to see whether the prime minister dares to touch this issue because some members of his Cabinet are also accused of unethical behaviour,” Yutthapong said.
If Sittra unveils the politician and he is a member of Pheu Thai, he will ask Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew to conduct an urgent investigation, Yutthapong said.
Thais expect political chaos, vote-buying, and election fraud this year: poll
SUNDAY, JANUARY 08, 2023
A survey by the National Institute of Development Administration found that most of the 1,310 people it recently surveyed expect political chaos to continue this year, while vote-buying and election fraud will be commonplace ahead of the upcoming election.
There were a few less pessimistic responses, however. More than half of respondents said the pandemic was either in the past or the worst was over.
The institute surveyed 1,310 Thais by telephone nationwide from January 3 to 6. Respondents were 18 years of age or older. The results of the survey were released on Sunday.
When asked to compare the political situation this year to last year, respondents expected it to be chaotic:
– 45.27% said political chaos would be the same this year as last year.
– 36.11% said political chaos would worsen.
– 10.07% said political chaos would be less severe.
– 7.86% said there would be no political chaos this year.
– 0.69% had no comment.
The respondents were also asked to comment on the upcoming election. They were allowed to provide more than one comment. Most said vote-buying would be commonplace:
– 62.60% said there would be vote buying.
– 36.56% said politicians in power would abuse their authority in campaigns.
– 33.74% said there would be election fraud, but wrongdoers would be brought to justice.
– 29.9% said candidates would spend more than legally allowed by the Election Commission.
– 29.39% said there would be only trivial violations of election laws.
– 20.23% said there would be no vote buying.
Asked whether they think the economic situation will improve this year, respondents said:
– 37.25% said the economic situation would improve.
– 34.51% said there would be no change in the economic situation.
– 28.09% said the economic situation would worsen.
– 0.15% had no comment.
Asked to comment on the Covid-19 situation this year, respondents replied:
– 35.57% said the Covid-19 situation would no longer be worrying.
– 32.06% said the spread of the virus would lessen.
– 19.70% said the rate of new infections would remain the same as last year.
– 12.67% said the pandemic would become more severe.
But Senator Wallop Tangkhananulak rose to second Piraphet’s call for adjournment, upon which Pornpetch closed the meeting at 12.49pm.
He also mentioned that in the photo accompanying the lawyer’s post, the man who is partially shown (and allegedly the suspected philanderer) looks less than 60 years old.
Yutthapong also called on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to investigate the sex scandal.
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