No reason to derail polls

It was no surprise that the “four questions” raised by Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha last Friday sparked public anxiety about a possible delay to the long-awaited elections. Many interpreted them as a strong hint of a postponement by the premier. A lot of people did not hesitate to criticise the prime minister, who insisted the main objective of bringing up those questions was to find out the public’s thoughts regarding democracy since they would have to choose a new government. In other words, the prime minister said it was more of a tactic to urge people to think. He also insisted he had no intention of putting off the election, as widely speculated.

In the questions, Gen Prayut asked whether people thought the next elected government would ensure good governance and what should be done if there was no such government after the next poll. He also asked whether elections that fail to take into account matters relating to the country’s future, reforms and national strategy are the right thing. Finally, he asked if politicians who behave improperly should get a chance to run in elections again, and who would deal with them and how, if problems should reoccur.

The speculation and criticism that resulted from the prime minister’s questions reflect a lack of trust in the regime’s promises regarding the political roadmap designed to bring the country back to democracy, as concluded by some major Thai-language newspapers, including Matichon.

This is particularly the case because the questions, widely described as being leading, came shortly after his remarks regarding a derailment of the political roadmap following a bomb blast at Phramongkutklao Hospital on the morning of May 22.

“Most importantly, as long as the situation continues this way — bombings, use of war weapons, conflicts among people and other such problems — can the election still take place? It depends on everyone’s cooperation,” the prime minister said in what was interpreted as a bid to retain power. The hospital blast, which injured 25, was the third bomb attack in less than two months. No suspects have been arrested.

Some speculated that Gen Prayut may have thought about this issue for quite some time before he put forward his questions to the public via his weekly television address.

For many, it is disappointing that Gen Prayut used the pretext of the bombing to suggest postponing the elections, after several delays already. This would mean the military regime and the National Council for Peace and Order would stay in power. When the media and critics pressed him on why he was backing away from his election promise, the prime minister turned sulky and he has now even stopped talking to the press or giving interviews.

The timing of the remarks is also interesting. The prime minister’s questions came as the government seems to be experiencing a gradual decline in its popularity ratings. Additionally, opinion polls indicate that people were looking forward to elections and an end to military rule.

Even political parties that have remained relatively quiet for a while have started to spring into action, with key figures of the now defunct People’s Democratic Reform Committee re-entering the political scene and proposing the Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva as a candidate to be the next prime minister.

It’s more than clear that these politicians had hoped the election would take place sooner rather than later.

The prime minister should realise there is no reason to derail the roadmap. Instead he should boost his efforts as head of the interim government to foster reconciliation and reform which will pave a smooth path to democracy.

The prime minister’s questions came as the government seems to be experiencing a gradual decline in its popularity ratings.