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Thepthai Senpong is giving the government something to worry about as censure debate looms Ex-finance minister’s decision to part ways with Democrats fuels speculation Run against ‘uncle’ may not grow into a strong anti-government movement
Democrat MP defiant
Thepthai Senpong, a Democrat Party MP for Nakhon Si Thammarat, remains defiant in the face of “threats of action” from his party over his attitude towards the government, which some political observers say has hardened.
The outspoken MP has never been short of criticism against the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP)-led coalition and key figures of the regime, namely Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.
Mr Thepthai may have got carried away recently, given Gen Prawit’s comment suggesting that the MP’s conduct be dealt with by the Democrat Party.
Acknowledging Gen Prawit’s words, Democrat secretary-general Chalermchai Sri-on said he discussed the issue with party leader Jurin Laksanavisit and that there are measures in place to deal with such problems.
Mr Thepthai, however, refused to hold his fire. He immediately shot back at Gen Prawit, who is the PPRP’s chief strategist, accusing him of bossing people around and saying the general should stop giving orders. He also said that Democrat executives should straighten things out with Gen Prawit about the role of MPs.
“I have never disrespected the party’s resolutions nor its conditions for joining the coalition. I’ve done my part as an MP and [my comments] are not about attacking the government.
“Gen Prawit should respect different opinions, which are part of the democratic system designed by the regime-sponsored constitution,” he said.
Mr Thepthai has also made it clear that he will not cast a vote of confidence for cabinet members who are unable to explain themselves when targeted by the opposition in the no-confidence debate next month.
“If the opposition has ‘receipts’ [proof of wrongdoing], I will not vote because that’s one of the three conditions trumpeted by the Democrats for joining the government,” he said.
When the party agreed to join the PPRP-led government, it reportedly set the condition that it will withdraw if corrupt practices are exposed.
Mr Thepthai’s defiance may be a cause for concern for the government in the face of the upcoming censure debate, observers say.
Recently, he and five other Democrat lawmakers shifted from the party’s position and chose to support the oppositionbacked motion to set up a panel to investigate the impacts of the commands issued by the National Council for Peace and Order under Section 44 of the interim charter may have had.
Some media reports have suggested that this rebellion was in retaliation for the PPRP’s refusal to have former Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva lead a House committee set up to study charter amendments.
Mr Thepthai, who is seen as a Democrat mouthpiece, is known to have close ties with Mr Abhisit. He served as a personal spokesman to Mr Abhisit when the latter was prime minister.
With Mr Abhisit fading out of politics and the party’s affairs, and several key figures abandoning the party, many observers are watching with interest to see if Mr Thepthai will follow suit.
However, many say there is a slim chance of the MP quitting the party, because his resignation will force a by-election — an unwelcome development when the government has a razor-thin majority.
Korn as next PM?
Former finance minister Korn Chatikavanij’s surprise decision to part ways with the Democrat Party has prompted speculation that he will not only start a new political party but also about the likelihood of him becoming a non-elected outsider prime minister in the event of a political accident.
Mr Korn’s decision to quit the country’s oldest party was formalised on Wednesday.
He is the latest Democrat heavyweight to leave following the exit of Pirapan Salirathavibhaga who defected to the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) and was made the prime minister’s adviser.
Former Bangkok MP Atavit Suwannapakdee also resigned from the Democrats on Thursday — the day after Mr Korn called it quits.
As the opposition sharpens its claws for the no-confidence debate against the government, it is not difficult to predict that the government will eventually emerge triumphant no matter what the opposition does.
This is because the coalition’s fears over its razor-thin majority are no longer a concern after the Future Forward Party expelled four renegade MPs who continually failed to toe the party line in parliament.
The four are expected to move to coalition parties soon, which means the coalition’s strength will be solidified.
However, observers have not ruled out the possibility of an unexpected political accident which could force Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to step down.
If that happens, the next step will be to choose a new premier from the list of potential candidates submitted by political parties to the Election Commission before the March 24 election.
With his resignation from the Democrat Party, Mr Korn is no longer an MP, and his close aides in the party told the Bangkok Post that Mr Korn does not plan on joining another party, but will likely establish a new one.
Observers previously noted that should the need arise for a non-elected outsider PM, army chief Gen Apirat Kongsompong might be suitable, but this speculation has been dismissed because Gen Apirat is serving as army chief and the constitution bars a civil servant from concurrently holding the prime minister’s post.
In the coalition camp, the only contender for the premiership if Gen Prayut has to step down is Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who is the Bhumjaithai Party’s prime ministerial candidate.
With Gen Apirat having no chance of becoming prime minister and if there are calls for a premier who is well-versed in economic and financial matters, Mr Korn is one of the top candidates, according to political observers.
Divide getting deeper?
The so-called walking and running events in Bangkok held last Sunday to either oppose or support the government provided visions of the political divide getting deeper.
However, both events begged one question: Had they they rallied enough supporters to warrant sustained movements in the future?
While the turnouts were bizarrely controversial, with each side claiming 13,000 participants, the demographic of the antigovernment runners at Rot Fai Park and of the pro-regime walkers at Lumpini Park
could predict the future of the two campaigns, observers say.
According to observers, both events were of a tit-for-tat nature. Soon after the Jan 12 Wing Lai Lung (Run to Oust the Uncle) event was announced online, a brand new web page popped up seeking participants for the Dern Cheer Lung (Walk to Support the Uncle) event.
The “uncle” touted by both camps is unarguably Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
The run reportedly captured some 10,000 registrants, while the walk clocked in about 3,000 registrations, though on the actual day, a similar number of people inexplicably showed up for both events.
Photos and video clips showed that the runners were clearly younger than the walkers.
According to experts, it would not be farfetched to assume that most of the younger members of the running camp were supporters of the Future Forward Party (FFP).
Clearly, FFP boss Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit’s participation served as a magnet.
Mr Thanathorn said people had shown up to voice their frustration and to warn the government that its days are numbered. He added that the event was indicative of a “spark” that could lead to an open and sustained convergence of people who are against the regime.
But political parties know they need to maintain a distance from rallies or gatherings that are political in nature, because any association could land them a charge of aiding or being complicit in overthrowing a government — an offence punishable by dissolution or a political ban.
However, without overt backing from the parties, observers said the movements may lose their impetus to morph into street protests.
In the past, some political parties organised “leisure trips” to Bangkok for their rural supporters, who then spent their time in the capital filling up spots at mass rallies.
The pro-government walk included several noted members of the now-defunct People’s Democratic Reform Committee, which had engineered protracted street protests against the Pheu Thai-led administration from late 2013 to May 2014 before the tanks rolled out and ousted the government.
A political source, meanwhile, said the number of walkers may have swelled thanks to certain figures who are experienced in mobilising crowds.
The source also noted that a mass gathering’s sustainability may not always depend on the organic amassing of followers.