13-7-2023 (BANGKOK)
The voting for the prime minister position has concluded, and the unofficial results so far are as follows:
- 323 votes in favor of Pita (13 senators)
- 182 votes against
- 198 abstentions
13-7-2023 (BANGKOK) Move Forward Secretary-General Chaitawat Tulathon has stated that the party cannot ignore the unprecedented misuse of the lese-majeste law by the Prayut administration. In November 2020, the previous administration announced their intention to suppress the pro-democracy movement using all available means, resulting in 253 individuals being prosecuted for lese-majeste.
As parliamentarians, Chaitawat stated that they cannot turn a blind eye to this misuse, which is causing societal conflicts. He expressed concern that the misuse of the lese-majeste law is like a ticking time bomb that may explode in the future and outlined their intention to amend the law to prevent such an explosion.
The amendment aims to align the law with international standards and strike a better balance between the protection of the right to expression and the protection of the royal institution. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), of which Thailand is a co-signatory, states that imprisonment should not be imposed in defamation cases.
Chaitawat also highlighted that before the law was amended in 1997, violators could be pardoned if their criticism of the royal institution was made with honest intention. He argued that if the parliament in 1933 could recognize that jailing people for criticism is outdated, then the majority voice in today’s parliament should be able to amend the law.
13-7-2023 (BANGKOK) Move Forward Party (MFP) Leader Pita Limjoraenrat has stated that the parliamentary meeting held today focuses on the prime ministerial vote rather than the amendment of any laws, although he acknowledges that concerns regarding his candidacy include this particular matter.
Pita expressed satisfaction in observing that parliamentarians have demonstrated the ability to discuss this issue maturely, within limits, and with transparency within the parliament.
He expressed his aspiration to attend the UN meeting in New York in September as the prime minister, aiming to convey that Thailand has regained its strength and is ready to play a constructive role in regional and global affairs.
Pita emphasized the significance of supporting migrant workers, as the Thai economy relies on them. Simultaneously, a country’s leader must strike a balance between the influences of superpowers on the nation.
He said an escalation of conflict in a neighboring country would undoubtedly impact Thailand, and the country must navigate its communication with the neighboring nation while maintaining its standing in the international community.
Pita denied the assertion that the MFP-led coalition supports the separatist movement in the southern region and assured that under his leadership, “Thailand will remain a united country.”
He outlined his plans to address inequality, ensure food security, and reduce the military’s involvement in politics to help resolve the conflict in the Deep South. He expressed his intention to discuss a resolution to the conflict within the Parliament, stressing the need to listen to political groups outside the parliament to effectively resolve the conflict and prevent future separations.
Regarding the issue of drug problems, he highlighted that the coalition partners recognize the urgent need for action and commit to addressing it promptly once they assume power.
13-7-2023 (BANGKOK) Democrat MP Chaichana Detdecho has stated that his party will never support a prime ministerial candidate from a party that seeks to amend the lese-majeste law. He argued that the royal institution has been instrumental in building and protecting the country since its inception.
In addition to amending the lese-majeste law, a member of the Move Forward Party (MFP) also intends to change the national day, according to Chaichana. He argued that addressing other issues such as higher living costs and drug problems should take precedence, as amending the law would not solve anything but rather exacerbate conflicts.
Chaichana further stated that those who show disloyalty to the royal institution should be punished in accordance with the existing laws, and there is no need to amend the law to reduce punishments or grant forgiveness to the offenders.
He claimed that members of the MFP-led coalition are supporting separatists in the south, which, according to him, indicates an intention to divide the country. He emphasized that every party has the right to vote for the PM candidate as they see fit, and the MFP should not exert pressure on other parties to vote for their candidate solely because they won the election.
Furthermore, Chaichana alleged that the MFP disregards the opinions of other parties that hold different views from theirs. He argued that the issue of amending the lese-majeste law cannot be discussed in parliament due to its potential impact on the royal institution.
13-7-2023 (BANGKOK) Prachachart Secretary-General Tawee Sodsong has stated that the Move Forward Party (MFP)-led coalition has already obtained a majority in the lower house, and the coalition partners have agreed on Pita Limjaroenrat as their candidate for prime minister.
Tawee emphasized that more than 70% of voters supported the eight coalition parties, and they are expecting Pita, the leader of the winning party, to become the new prime minister. He criticized the current administration for exacerbating inequality and expressed his party’s commitment to narrowing the wealth gap.
Tawee argued that the 2014 coup, the junta-drafted constitution, and the junta government have hindered the country’s democratic progress, and after nine years of stagnation, the people desire significant political change. He emphasized that the people have already chosen change, and parliamentarians should heed their voice when voting for a prime minister.
Tawee stressed that the amendment of the lese-majeste law should not derail the people’s mandate. He clarified that amending the law is not part of the MFP-led coalition’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), and the MFP cannot unilaterally amend the law. The issue should be discussed in parliament within the framework of the constitutional monarchy system, he added.
Tawee argued that voters were aware of the MFP’s intention to amend the law before the election, and since they won, it indicates that they understand and support the party’s intention. He urged the senators to abandon the belief that they can still push for a minority government, as that would be tantamount to a tyrannical practice.
“In a democratic system, the majority must rule,” he concluded.
13-7-2023 (BANGKOK) Senator Kamnoon Sidhisamarn has voiced his opposition to the Move Forward Party’s (MFP) plans to amend the lese-majeste law in Thailand. He argues that the proposed amendments are unacceptable as they would diminish the level of absolute protection for the royal institution to conditional protection.
The MFP has proposed removing the section concerning the protection of the institution from the section related to national security in order to create a new section. However, Senator Kamnoon believes that this would essentially amount to abolishing the law. He argues that changes to the law regarding royal defamation would transform it into a simple defamation law, which is inappropriate since the law for the monarch should have distinct conditions and penalties compared to those for ordinary citizens.
Currently, the punishment for lese-majeste ranges from 3 to 15 years of imprisonment. Senator Kamnoon criticized the proposed punishment of less than 1 year for royal defamation as being too lenient. He contends that the MFP’s proposed amendment would essentially decriminalize criticizing the monarch, as it would no longer be considered a violation of the law.
Senator Kamnoon also noted that amending the law to allow for compromises in lese-majeste cases and limiting the individuals who can file complaints raises delicate issues. He emphasized that he had not encountered such principles before.
13-7-2023 (BANGKOK) Pheu Thai list-MP Adisorn Piengkes has emphasized the significance of the people’s votes, which allocated 151 MP seats to the Move Forward Party (MFP) and 141 MP seats to the Pheu Thai Party. He asserts that these votes have bound the two parties together.
Respecting the democratic system, the Pheu Thai Party is willing to endorse MFP Leader Pita Limjaroenrat as the prime minister, according to Adisorn.
He further stated, “Regardless of the opinions held by parliamentarians today, the ultimate arbiter is the people, who have unequivocally determined that the MFP, Pheu Thai, and other coalition partners should assume positions of governance.”
Adisorn highlighted the frustration caused by attempts to nullify the people’s mandate by appointed officials, which has led to ongoing protests. He emphasized that the delay in forming a government has adverse effects on the people, as they require a new administration to address various social and economic issues.
13-7-2023 (BANGKOK) Move Forward Secretary-General Chaitawat Tulathon has voiced concerns regarding the outcome of the election held on May 14, emphasizing that his party emerged as the victor. With 312 MPs from eight different parties, the Move Forward Party was able to secure a majority in the lower house.
According to Tulathon, in a normal democratic system, party leader Pita Limjaroenrat would have already assumed the role of the new prime minister, as the election results clearly demonstrated the party’s popularity and support among voters. However, the unfolding developments since the election have raised a crucial question: if the new prime minister does not align with the election results, what is the purpose of conducting an election in the first place?
Tulathon pointed out that this situation has led people to question who holds the highest authority in the system if it is not the people themselves, as outlined in the charter. He expressed his concerns over the implications for the democratic process and emphasized the need for a system that upholds the principles of fair representation and respects the will of the voters.
13-7-2023 (BANGKOK) Move Forward Party Leader Pita Limjaroenrat has stated that any amendment to the law should be carried out within the framework of the constitutional monarchy system in parliament. According to him, the amendment of the law is not included in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) of the 8-party coalition led by the Move Forward Party. Consequently, there are no provisions for the amendment among the remaining seven parties.
Regarding his eligibility for the position of prime minister, Pita stated that the Constitutional Court has not yet issued a ruling on his case regarding media shareholding. He also claimed that he was not notified by the Election Commission about the allegations against him, and he was not granted the opportunity to defend himself. Nevertheless, he insisted that he is still fully qualified to be nominated for the position.
13-7-2023 (BANGKOK) Senator Praphan Koonmee has stated that Move Forward Party Leader Pita Limjaroenrat is ineligible to become the next prime minister of Thailand due to his ownership of media shares. According to Koonmee, the Election Commission has already determined that there are sufficient grounds to request the Constitutional Court to rule on Pita’s eligibility. Nominating him for the position of prime minister goes against the charter, as the EC has already established that Pita holds media shares. However, the court has yet to make a ruling on Pita’s eligibility.
Senator Praphan also claimed that the MPs who nominated Pita for the position may have violated the charter. If the EC does not have to ask the court for its ruling, they would have already disqualified Pita from taking office. Furthermore, he argued that Pita is unsuitable for the position due to his tendency to provoke conflicts with neighboring countries and instigate chaos within the country.
13-7-2023 (BANGKOK) Chada Thaiseth, a member of the Bhumjaithai Party, has expressed that his party would support Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of the Move Forward Party (MFP), as the Prime Minister if the MFP agrees to abandon their efforts to amend the lese-majeste law in parliament. Thaiseth believes that making changes to the law would not contribute to any improvement in the country’s current situation.
Thaiseth emphasized the importance of having a law that safeguards the royal institution. He argued that without such a law, individuals would have the freedom to openly criticize the monarch, potentially leading to chaos and even civil war.
13-7-2023 (BANGKOK) Cholnan Srikaew, the leader of Thailand’s Pheu Thai Party, proposed Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of the Move Forward Party, as the next prime minister in the joint sitting of the bicameral legislature. In order for Limjaroenrat to become a candidate, his nomination must be seconded by at least one-tenth of the members, and then approved by a simple majority of all 750 members.
