14-7-2023 (BANGKOK) The Thammasat University Student Council has issued a strong statement condemning the recent vote for a new prime minister in Thailand. The council’s Standing Committee on Politics and Democracy Promotion expressed its disappointment with members of parliament and senators who voted against the will of the people or abstained from voting, labeling their actions as disgraceful.
The joint sitting of the House of Representatives and the Senate took place on Thursday, and Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat’s bid to become the country’s 30th prime minister was unsuccessful. Despite winning 151 House seats in the May 14 general election, Pita failed to secure the necessary endorsement from half of the parliamentarians. The final vote count showed 324 in favor, 182 against, and 199 abstentions among the 705 members present. Pita required 375 votes from the combined 749 House and Senate seats, but fell short. It is worth noting that a senator had resigned a day before the vote, reducing the total number of seats.
Among MPs, Pita received 311 votes in favor, 148 against, and 39 abstentions. However, he received only 13 votes in favor from senators, with 34 against and 159 abstentions.
The Thammasat University Student Council’s committee criticized the MPs and senators who voted against Pita or abstained, accusing them of going against the will of the people as expressed in the general election. With MFP’s victory in the election and Pita’s leadership, they argue that these representatives should have respected the mandate given by the people. The committee condemned their actions as disgusting and disgraceful, asserting that they ignored their roles as representatives of the Thai people, whose duty is to work for the benefit of the nation and the well-being of its citizens.
The committee called upon MPs and appointed senators to uphold the votes of the people and emphasized the importance of respecting the democratic process. They stated that while the younger generation would lead the country towards prosperity, the senators’ actions could potentially lead the nation to disaster.
Supporters of the Move Forward Party expressed disappointment with the outcome of the vote but acknowledged that it was not unexpected. They urged the appointed senators to respect the will of the people. Prior to the joint sitting, hundreds of MFP supporters gathered near the parliament to show their solidarity with the party and its leader.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) designated an area near the parliament complex for the MFP supporters to gather. The gathering area, covering approximately 710 square meters, was able to accommodate around 300 people at a time. The BMA worked in collaboration with the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) to ensure law and order during the gathering. The MPB issued an order prohibiting public gatherings within a 50-meter radius of the parliament complex.
Caretaker Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha acknowledged the right of people to express their political views and observe the parliamentary process. He called for MFP supporters to respect the law, avoid violence and conflicts, and emphasized the importance of security officials following crowd control rules based on international standards.
Before the parliamentary vote began, a commotion occurred in the designated rally area when a male teenager, seemingly an MFP supporter, destroyed a poster, leading to an assault by another individual. The teenager was eventually rescued by Ngoentra Khamsaen, 44, who clarified that it was a misunderstanding.
