Thanathorn exploits status as newbie

Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, leader of the newly-registered Future Forward Party was the first new of a new wave of politicians to get on the military regime’s nerves. At his party’s first general assembly on May 27, he revealed that his first initiative if his party won a general election, tentatively planned for next year, would be to scrap the 2017 constitution.

From a perspective of many Thais who are not supporters of the current administration, that statement was very bold. From the point of view of those who have witnessed the regime’s prosecution of its critics, such remark is not just bold but also brave.

Mr Thanathorn poked the lion at a very crucial moment, a few days ahead of the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the MP election bill, which was declared constitutional on Wednesday.

The ruling on the bill removed another possibility that the elections could be postponed beyond February. Now it is certain there are no more constitutional hurdles which could further delay the poll.

In what appears to be nothing more than a spontaneous warning, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha told the press that the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) will now keep an eye on Future Forward due to Mr Thanathorn’s remark.

Future Forward is in a fortunate position right now as the regime has let it hold political activities to promote its campaigns while major parties are still banned from doing so.

Meanwhile, some believe the two major parties may be holding discussions behind closed doors.

Democrat party secretary-general Juti Krairiksh came out to say the party is still open to some kind of coalition with its arch-rival Pheu Thai if it wins the next election. Former Pheu Thai MP Yutthapong Charasatien, meanwhile, revealed the party’s MPs in the Northeast have been approached by other parties to defect. The Democrats have also faced a similar problem in recent months.

However, such political tactics are not being played against a party fresh out of the womb like Future Forward which is filled with political fresh faces and clearcut collective policies.

At a time when the big teams are fighting hard to keep their MPs, the new team is able to spend more time in the field meeting people. That seems to be exactly what Future Forward is doing at the moment, campaigning on pressing issues and offering solutions to conflicts that the NCPO have caused or failed to solve.

At its first general assembly at Thammasat University’s Rangsit Campus, the party also pledged to grant an amnesty to political victims such as pro-election activists.

The ongoing restrictions on freedom of speech and expression, especially criticism of the current administration, are simply something the NCPO cannot relent on if it wishes to maintain power.

By reiterating that pro-election activists should not be prosecuted for merely exercising their rights and civil liberties, Future Forward’s rebuke just adds salt to the wound.

For one thing, Pheu Thai and the Democrats share something in common with the ruling regime which puts them at a disadvantage — they have disastrously failed the people.

For instance, ridiculous amounts of alleged corruption have occurred under governments they ran.

If voters who are fed up with the status quo and demand real change, Mr Thanathorn could have a shot of becoming the next prime minister.

One may think of Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul as a a strong contender for the premier’s job due to his extensive experience in politics. But he lacks the burst of energy and freshness that can attract a new, younger generation of voters — qualities possessed by Mr Thanathorn.

Also, for Mr Anutin it’s difficult to distinguish his own visions for the country from the conventional populist rhetoric that has dominated the political landscape.

As I said earlier, Mr Thanathorn has taken a big step in offering bold pledges. At the end, he may not be the most suitable option for the prime minister’s job especially after the regime lifts the political ban and lets other parties campaign for the poll.

It’s easy for people to say what they are going to do, but it is more reliable when they begin to discuss how they will do it and Mr Thanathorn has done this.

But people tend to change when they hold power, and so it remains to be seen who Mr Thanathorn will become if he wins the 2019 poll.