Prayut invites all politicians for talks
Chartthaipattana ‘deal’ claims brushed aside
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha says he welcomes all political parties to talk with the government to move ahead with national unity, but brushed aside speculation that he has made “a deal” with the Chartthaipattana Party to stay on in power.
“I welcome everybody, both existing politicians and newcomers, for talks. If you want the country to move forward with unity, you can meet me. But there won’t be any deals.
“I just want everybody to acknowledge what the government is doing,” Gen Prayut said yesterday during a mobile cabinet meeting in Ayutthaya.
He slammed some critics and the media for speculating that the regime might have made a secret deal with Chartthaipattana, after the party threw its support behind Gen Prayut to stay on as premier after an election expected late next year.
“I didn’t make any deal whatsoever. If you think we can move the country forward together, you can come and talk. That will be fundamental to reconciliation, peace and order in the next general election,” he said.
Speculation about a secret deal to support Gen Prayut to stay on as premier was sparked after his meeting with a key Chartthaipattana figure in Suphan Buri during his visit to the province on Monday.
Former Chartthaipattana deputy leader Prapat Pothasuthon told Gen Prayut he would have no objection to him staying on for another eight to 10 years, as long as the prime minister improves people’s standard of living.
Gen Prayut was apparently happy with the party’s stance.
Still, the prime minister insisted yesterday he has been following his regime’s political road map.
“We are making Thailand a democratic country, and special means are needed to achieve that goal. If we use normal means, is it really possible? I am well aware that the method to reach the goal is not democratic, but the problem needs to be fixed in this way,” he said.
He also warned Ayutthaya residents not to become pawns of some political groups encouraging them to gather in the capital.
“You can go to Bangkok to pay respect to the late King, but if you are going for other purposes or if anybody tries to persuade you to go, don’t go. Please stop it, in every province. Even if I call you to fight for me, don’t go.”
Meanwhile, Chartthaipattana chief adviser Somsak Prisananathakul yesterday shrugged off criticism that the party was trying to curry favour with the regime.
Mr Somsak said Gen Prayut’s visit gave Chartthaipattana politicians a chance to relay problems and the needs of local people to the government.
He also said that Mr Prapat’s support for Gen Prayut to stay on as prime minister was only his personal view, not the party’s collective stance.
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but Chartthaipattana never makes
enemies. We are friends with all parties. When we join hands with anyone, we never abandon them. But if the party with a majority of House seats does not choose us, we will just sit in opposition as in the past,” Mr Somsak said.
Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva also said it was no surprise that Chartthaipattana politicians welcomed Gen Prayut during his visit.
Mr Abhisit added it was too early to say if this was an attempt by the regime to forge a political alliance.
He also affirmed to the Bangkok Post the Democrat Party’s stance that it will not support a non-elected outsider becoming prime minister after the election.
“I have made it clear that it must be left to the House of Representatives to nominate a prime ministerial candidate first. A party which can gather the support of 250 MPs must have the right to nominate [a prime minister] before the 250 senators do,” Mr Abhisit said.
“The 250 senators should not resist the House of Representatives which is elected by the people,” Mr Abhisit added.
Under the new charter, senators can join MPs in proposing a motion to suspend the rule requiring prime ministerial candidates to come from political party lists, paving the way for an “outsider” prime minister to be selected.
On the a possibility of a national unity government, he said the Democrat Party is ready to work together with the Pheu Thai Party only if the latter cuts ties with its de facto leader, ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
“The Democrat Party is ready to work with Pheu Thai if Pheu Thai agrees to shake off the influence of Thaksin and stop working for the sake of Thaksin. If it cannot, it will be difficult,” Mr Abhisit said.
Pheu Thai key figure Chaturon Chaisaeng said that Chartthaipattana’s move may be part of a plan to seek support for an outsider prime minister.
He said he believes Gen Prayut is likely to become prime minister again if political parties do not oppose an outsider premier.
The Chartthaipattana Party’s syrupy invitation to Gen Prayut Chan-ocha to stay on in power for years to come is disappointing but hardly a surprise. The pledge of support was made when Gen Prayut visited Suphan Buri, their political stronghold, on Monday.
The Chartthaipattana politicians, led by Prapat Pothasuthon, offered saccharine-coated words to the premier suggesting he continue running the country for the next eight to 10 years.
Mr Prapat, who took over the party from the late Banharn Silpa-archa after his death last year, said he would have no objection if Gen Prayut stays on as long as people are earning more.
The party is a reincarnation of the dissolved Chart Thai Party, which earned the nickname of pla lai (eel) for its slithering tactics — switching from one side of the political spectrum to the other for the sake of political gain. Its latest move shows Chartthaipattana has inherited that old party’s ways with barely a false step.
Mr Prapat’s statement indicates how the party is stuck in old-style politics mode, with politicians kowtowing to the powers-that-be.
We have yet to hear from the emerging leaders of the party who are to replace their predecessors, namely Varawut Silpa-archa, Banharn’s son, who is expected to be the new party leader; Korawee Pritsananantakul, son of former deputy party leader Somsak; and Samerkan Thiengtham, son of former party executive Jongchai, about what they think of all this.
As the party is in transition to a new generation of politicians, it’s disturbing to see a political leader prostrating himself to the general who came to power through a coup and is unlikely to run in election.
As a political party, Chartthaipattana is obliged to uphold democratic principles.
According to the organic bill on political parties drafted by the coup-installed Constitution Drafting Committee, parties have the duty to “encourage people to engage in democratic values and freedom of expression”, “encouraging people to participate in politics and the checks and balances process”, and “to create unity and reconciliation and encouraging non-violent conflict resolution methods.”
Any way you look at it, the stance taken by Chartthaipattana Party’s executive is unacceptable.
No doubt Mr Prapat’s remarks are music to the prime minister’s ears, despite his ruling out a future for himself in politics in recent months.
Speaking to the Suphan Buri people, Gen Prayut delivered an odd message to his opponents, including politicians and prodemocracy groups, saying they should not waste time forcing him to step down as he “will not go anywhere”, as he is determined to follow his political road map.
Unfortunately, no one knows where the end of the road map is and when an election will be held. It may be next year or in 10 years.
Chartthaipattana Party’s invitation, together with moves by other political stakeholders, seems to suggest that an age of military-free politics may be far away.
Recently, former Democrat politician and leader of the now-defunct People’s Democratic Reform Committee Suthep Thaugsuban indicated he might form a political party.
This would be a political U-turn for Mr Suthep who in the past has strongly ruled out a political role.
Mr Suthep is a big fan of Gen Prayut leading the country after the general election.
Meanwhile, calls for a national unity government have returned to a mixed reaction.
Some suggest in this content that the next government leader will be just old wine in a new bottle, even after an election.
Under such a circumstance, I have no doubt about why it was, for several months, that radio stations stopped airing the song composed by Gen Prayut after he took the premiership in 2014.
In its hook lyric verses, the military leader-cum-prime minister pleaded for public understanding as “We (the regime) will fulfil our promise”, adding the regime needed “a little more time”.
Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has urged Gen Prayut to be clearer about the country’s political situation. He asked the prime minister to set an exact election date for Thais.
If there are legal hitches, he says Gen Prayut should explain how he would ensure there would be no problems leading up to the election.
I agree with Mr Abhisit. If Gen Prayut does not have a hidden agenda, he should instruct all radio stations to air his song, which also tells us the military will not stay on for long.