Will the pro-democracy opposition take power in Thailand? | Inside Story
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 พ.ค. 2024
- Thailand’s opposition received widespread support in general elections.
The leader of the Move Forward Party is set to become the next prime minsiter.
First, Pita Limjaroenrat and his coalition must overcome the military-appointed Senate, especially as this bloc also gets a say on who becomes prime minister and who forms a new government.
But with the military so poweful, can the opposition promised reforms be achieved?
Presenter: Laura Kyle
Guests:
Parit Wacharasinghu, Policy Campaign Manager for the Move Forward Party and an MP-Elect in the Thai government.
Punchada Sirivunnabood, specialist on Thai politics and associate professor at Mahidol University.
Sean Boonpracong, political analyst and the former national security adviser for then-Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
- Subscribe to our channel: aje.io/AJSubscribe
- Follow us on Twitter: / ajenglish
- Find us on Facebook: / aljazeera
- Check our website: www.aljazeera.com/
@AljazeeraEnglish
#Aljazeeraenglish
#News #Thailand #
As Indonesian, whose country had been governed under Suharto Military regime for 32 years ... I can say it's not easy to 'fight' against military politic dominance, especially if the military is 'protected' by the highest authority - in Thailand's case is the King
Indonesia had to face several riots and chaos, as well as economic struggle at the time we changed the system - from military dictatorship to democracy - thank God we survived 🙏
Indonesia was lucky to break away from military backed Govt. Now ,it is Thailand to break free and form a democratic govt. The monarch must be apolitical meaning not involved and above politics. Only then, the country can move forward to prosper. Listen to peoples voices.
Have you seen the Thai Stock market the last few days? Pray God we will survive.
@ng teckhoh I am Thai but you better leave us alone. Don't tell us what to do. This so-called forward party receives money from the NGO organization that is being funded by US government. We are not truly free.
Money money money ! As the world population, you sure we have come in the right track! Somebody say this about 100 years ago !
I agree with, having agreed, Thai people's voices are absolutely meaningless in Thai's, proved to be, democratic system. Me too, Thank God we live in abroad 🇨🇦
Congratulations Thailand!.. from Malaysia 🥰🥰🥰
I like Malaysian chic.
Pita is the most promising and potential prime minister we’ve ever had for now. We will support him.
lets see how he does...
Let's hope the Senate allows him to be PM; I fear civil unrest if they prevent the will of the people.
There’s no will or democracy the USA has funded organizations to change the way thai people think. This is just another proxy to China for USA. There is no such thing as democracy ANYWHERE. They are going usher in neoliberal policies that will only make a few rich and the citizens suffer. I hope the senate stops it.
@@st4331 It’s unavoidable if that’s a case, but yes let’s hope.
I thought that was a type of Bread. Hope he's not a loafer!
Feel fresh to see young politician like him.
Its a new breath of wind to Thailand. Now is the time for change with a pragmatic and educated leader
Congratulations to the Real Thai People getting Their Voices Heard, and hopefully The Real Thai People will be Happy with the new government's performance .
Unfortunately the Military appointed Senate will block them. Simultaneous elections should have been held.
now they just need the US & NATO to STAY THE F OUT of their business
Fortunately
It is online 30 percent😅😅😅
We are 😊
I love that there are young Thai politicians that also have an excellent command of English, so they can come on international talk shows like this and have intelligent discourse. It's a breath of fresh air.
Parit was graduated from Oxford Universitiy and a lot of politicians in Move Forward Party studied aboard.
I'm so proud of them. Thailand didn't have the Government that can communicate to the world for long time.
He is a product of US so it is not surprising.
@@tanutong Not entirely true. Thaksin spoke wonky English, but was willing to do interviews, and Abhisit, though I loathe him, speaks very good English.
That the good for Thailand coz never have PM speak good in english
English is not the indicator of good leadership
Looking forward to seeing a new, young, and dynamic Prime Minister. Cheers from Malaysia.
People are so sick of dictatorship.People need justice .
dats so rich when u wests are ignorant of the most dictator of all, US (world level dictator)
The junta are a lot less corrupt than those democratically elected politicians. You have to see it with your own eyes but the transformation from corrupt institutions to scurrying away corrupt officials when the junta came to power was surreal, albeit sad.
Loud and clear!!!
The people have spoken.
Rough sailing ahead.
Say a prayer for Thailand ❤️🇹🇭🙏🙏🙏
I lived in Thailand for a decade in a time when Prayut Chan o Cha led the military coup and took over the Thai government. He revised the constitution to allow him and his ally to take majority of the MP seats especially in the Senate on which until today still exists. This means its too early for the opposition to party to celebrate their victory. The conservatives still has the advantages to reverse the situations to they're favor just like what happened on the 2019 elections. Sadly I am still optimistic about the directions the Thai government will take after this election and what the Thai people will do when the conservative make their next move.
Alphacentauri_KurenaiX
I'm a Conservative as are millions of Americans. Prayut and his bought and paid for Senators and Election Commission are Fascists. They are no different than Kim in North Korea, Xi in China, and Putin in Russia. All of them Fascists that rule by fear and intimidation. I would hope and pray that you are right and the real winners of the election will become Thailand's next leaders. But, I'm a student of history and believe that dreadful history is repeated unless drastic action is taken to prevent it from repeating. Just winning an election is not enough.
I think Khun Prayut will congratulate the winner and follow the peoples. He makes a soft landing at this situation.
And let khun PITA as the next PM of Thailand.
You’re wrong. The coup was because Thaksin whose a criminal for using his red shirt terrorists. There is no such thing as democracy and the USA’s cia outlet the NED has funded most media. Neoliberalism is going to destroy Thailand. Also China is their biggest trading partner. Pita will decouple that.
There was a second election after the military had to step in and Prayut won
@@nancywibowo8632 I hope it is going to be like that since his personality is too opposite from what you think 😢
🚇
Hello world ,Thailand we are back after we disappeared and stopped the development of the country for 8 years. We are ready to develop our country to be equal to other developed countries around the world. Please cheer us up.
Dear friend around the world, as a Thai I would honor to say "We will move forward from now on".
To the cliff you mean
@@targe4070 with knowledge and preparing it's worth to too try, bro
Come on, Life is not meant to be in one place,our generation born to explore the world if you not interested just sit or maybe you could try to stop us and prepare for what we gonna do next.
Hello from Thailand🎉
I am very happy and welcome to see real democracy are taking shape in SEA and congratulate the people of Thailand on their determination for a change, as a Malaysian we would like to advice the winning parties to take reformation slowly and car4efully as in Malaysia in 2018 we successfully toppled the 60 years old ruling party but because of the new government too eager to push for reform it resulted in the new government being toppled, we of course hope for the best in Thailand but just a precaution
can you share with us how pushing for reform could toppled the party so fast?
@@tarrinpun3798 sometimes the reform was too drastic even some within the coalition party feel threatened and they break-off from the coalition and hence the newly elected ruling government will lost its majority in the parliament and hence have to handover the government to the new parliament majority
@@chiewata ah I see, well I hope that Thais will be more persistent, lets see. It is a long a hard road ahead.
@@tarrinpun3798 There’s no will or democracy the USA has funded organizations to change the way thai people think. This is just another proxy to China for USA. There is no such thing as democracy ANYWHERE. They are going usher in neoliberal policies that will only make a few rich and the citizens suffer. I hope the senate stops it.
I live in rural south Thailand with the farming and agricultural people. There is very little English language spoken. Thailand is not an english language nation. I am extremely impressed with how these Thai people here have mastered the english language. They are SUPER clever. The only time I hear english spoken this well is when I visit the immigration office or the airport. I must speak Thai to be able to live with the normal Thai folk.
Even the 13 kids got stuck in the cave in Chiagrai a few years ago speak English.
Don't they.
Those people in the interniew in this program, one of them went to Oxford. He is an elite himself. His uncle was a prime minister. of course he is clever to go to Oxford.
But he is also very RICH.
Harvard + MIT graduated , that’s why !
And that young guy is Oxford graduated (Also Eton)
@@Eak_epic Wow! Super intelligent!
They are children of the elite who were sent to the UK when they were 10.
I pray to god n everything for our democracy we hv been waiting for so long for this (I’m Thai)
I'm an American that lives in Thailand and I'm also a Rice farmer and really us farmers have all the power because we are responsible for the major food source and we can stop it at any time
As a Thai I can assure this one will be better in social and economic sense…I have trust in Pita and Move Forward party…talk to you again to prove my word on next Thai election…
He and his government are the light of hope for Thailand.
Thank you AJ. !
Be vigilant for any instances of unjust treatment towards Pita and his political party. Speak out against any unfair practices that come to your attention🧡
A good discussion. A few observations -
1. The sound levels were a little strange somehow
2. Prayut didn't lead the coup that overthrew Thaksin. He led the later 2014 coup
3. Maybe instead of calling the leader of MFP just 'Pita' the presenter might have called hin 'Khun Pita' as using the Khun prefix / honorific is a little more polite.
Khawp khun khrap from a Brit in Bangkok 🙂
As you said the coup happened with different people each time. But in the case of Khun Thaksin and later on his sister, Khun Yingluck, there is one person who still playing roles which is Colonel Prawit. So I guess they work in a team from the beginning.
@@shagara.9138 that's interesting. I didn't know. Thanks, and may Thailand see better days!
@@sabaidaniel555 Thank you for your good wish for Thai people.
@@shagara.9138 you're welcome. Thai people deserve better (I would think this even if my wife weren't Thai and my son half-Thai 555)
A glimpse of HOPE emerged in Thailand which was a power house and a bridge in Southeast Asia.
I wish my country will have Pita as the premier which his government brings the CHANGE to Thailand's political landscape domestically and internationally.
As a Thai I hope real democracy will happen in our country this time. Mr. Pita is supported by most Thai people to be our next PM.
No such democracy in Thailand… long days ahead for Thailand. Keep fighting!
Sawadee kha Khun PITA, congratulation to be the next PM of Thailand. Hope you can delivers all the promises to the people. And no corruption please.
We Myanmar people are very happy for the victory of Thai opposition over their own military regime. Myanmar and Thailand have similar fate as both are dominated by military regimes. We Myanmar also hope that new Thai democratic government will not assist in Burmese military junta in oppressing our own people in anyway as current Thai military regime does. At the same time, we are worried that Thailand might have same fate us, our opposition won in 2021 election and we were about to change the military dominated senate then the military did a coup so we are under military junta now... Let us pray that Thailand has a smooth transition to democracy again ....
I’m Thai people.
I support the Move forward party and Mr. Pita is the 30th Prime Minister of Thailand, but I am still concerned about the constitution written by the military dictatorship.
น้องติมเก่งมาก
I hope move forward form a government but the military has a lot of tools to stop this Thailand needs change I pray that change will come big reforms are needed. I would like to see minimum wage go up to 500 thai baht per day as well at the moment it’s 340 thai baht
I'm hopeful and proud of my new Prime Minister. If the senate block Pita, we will vote for Move Forward even more! They should respect our decision.
Senate will not allow it😢
I agree with you and so proud of you Mr. PITA.
Changes in any form will bring benefits to the country prosperity especially when the people have their voices to whom they wanted to elect and help lead the country for better mean. In this generation, the world need new faces and outlook. Good Luck to Mr. Pita!!!
Macron of Thailand is Mr.Pita 🇹🇭🧡👏🇹🇭You will never walk alone.🥰😊
Don't be like Myanmar, I hope Thailand's government system will run peacefully 🙏
We Thai people waiting for this for nearly 10 year, 🎉🎉 Go on to be the FULL democracy country in the world ✌️✌️👆🇹🇭
Seriouly nothing will change.
New Hope for Thai people.
it's so sad that the word "democracy" has been so tainted by neoliberal austerity - when the US claims they r fighting for freedom & democracy I cringe cuz I sadly know our real history - I almost wish I hadn't went down that depressing rabbit hole
While it is true that the citizens of Thailand have a crucial role to play in monitoring the situation within their country, it is also important to recognize the potential benefits of international support and involvement in certain circumstances. Thailand, like any other nation, is part of a global community where collaboration and assistance can have positive impacts.
International support can provide valuable perspectives, expertise, and resources that can contribute to the promotion of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. In situations where there are concerns about political stability, transparency, or potential violations of democratic principles, the international community can play a constructive role by offering diplomatic engagement, promoting dialogue, and urging respect for democratic norms.
Additionally, the presence of international observers can help ensure the fairness and credibility of electoral processes and the protection of fundamental rights. By closely monitoring the situation and providing support, the international community can help foster an environment where diverse voices are heard, democratic processes are upheld, and the rights of all individuals are respected.
It is essential to strike a balance between respecting the sovereignty of a nation and recognizing that interconnectedness and cooperation among countries can strengthen democratic values and contribute to stability. Therefore, calling for the international community to closely monitor the situation in Thailand is not meant to undermine the agency of the Thai people but rather to emphasize the importance of collective efforts to safeguard democratic principles.
TLDR 💪😎
As a longtime resident of Thailand (18 years) I am pleased that the Thais have finally had a real election. My only concern is that the MFP’s primary goal is to take down the monarchy. This will not end well.
หรือทำสิ่งที่ควรทำ
🧡🧡🧡
Difference between 2019 and now was that the military back parties won a substantial amount of seats then but that is not the case now
The key here Bhumjaithai and it's leader anutin, they might be part of the current government and is officially conservative. But they've pushed pretty liberal policies recently, anutin himself is an astute and shrew negotiator and has said his only condition for coalition is not to touch lesse masjeste. Where he decided to take his party's 70 seats to will decide this matter
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
I do not think that the 250 non elected ,but appointed military members of the senate, will care much about "democratic rules", due to their medieval concept of society.
As well said during the interview, the way to premiership is still long and the military supporters will use all the trick on theirs sleeves to keep and extend their power.
Another plausible, yet difficult scenario could be to include the Bhumjaithai party of former Ministry of health Anutin ,that with 70 seats could give the coalition a majority of 380 votes ( 376 is the minimum to form the government). Considering Anutin battle on cannabis liberalization , this would probably means giving up on the proposed law to limit cannabis consumption by Move Forward party
Carlo Gardella
Don't forget the Election Commission which is under the thumb of Prayut. With one stroke of the pen they can delegitimze the entire election. You actually think that this government is legitimate and plays by the rules? Good Luck.
❤🎉🎉🎉
As for the NCPO/junta appointed government, they are in the pockets of those who appointed them. In theory they have the "legal" right (legal because after the 2014 coup the junta wrote a new constitution and made up its own laws) to go against the wishes of the people's vote and end up voting for Prayut, the leader of the 2104 coup despite his having received less than 11.90% of the vote! The junta foresaw this scenario when it appointed the 250 senators that can overturn election results via a "legal" senate vote. Already a number of senators have stated they cannot vote for the winner PITA because he is a danger to the monarchy. It is a bogus claim but it has been sued several times before to justify coups.
ที่ผ่านมา 8 ปี เราต้องขอบคุณทหาร ที่ทำให้เราได้เห็นแล้วว่า ทหารไม่สามารถที่จะบริหารบ้านเมืองได้ดี หรือสงบอย่างที่พวกเขาได้คุยเอาไว้ ได้ แต่มันเป็นการกดหัว ปชช.มากกว่า ที่ไม่ให้พูดอย่าง ปชต. และห้ามลุกขึ้นมาต่อต้าน หรือออกความคิดเห็นใดๆ
I know nothing about Thailand election but hope pro-democracy win, democracy is freedom of expression.
But there are many risistance from conservertive group. Please help us to support our democracy parties.
Hopefully, It's the new era for Thailand .
Say whatever you want, but the dust has yet to settle.
Pita is a result of social media craziness in Thailand.
The military government will do there best to oust the opposite parties
Nicely
Something new. Better or worse is another story!
Hope this election result is not going to bring out military violence again in Thailand, pray that army General can respect the choice of the people, no dirty political trick is unleashed on Mr.Pita, supporters n party members, let democratization process begin to take root in Thailand peacefully without any civilian dead nor mass street protest in order to move forward.
Time for changing direction of country
still yet not to come please wait
Government for the People, By the Thai People 😀👍,Welcome come to Smile Thailand
God bless Phitha, the new leader of Thailand.
He is Thailand the only hope....Please help Thailand the Military has taken control Thailand for too long! Please let Smarter and more suitable people run the government!
Its all fine and no corpses until someone wants to make Thailand great again
If neither Move Forward nor Phuea Thai can garner enough senate votes to form a government then no other party can get closanywhere e to getting sufficient votes either.
Move forward is to find 376 Seats and personally the high House 250 must look at the voices of Thai's people indicated clearly didn't support previous Government. Good luck to you all.
There are hurdles to overcome; obstacles will be set as frequently as possible. The military is only part of the problem. There is the senate which was appointed by the junta's NCPO, and which is overwhelmingly anti-democratic/pro-military. Then there is the pretense to want to protect the monarchy from imagined evildoers (read: MFP) Nor does a too pliant media help, nor the smug and snug upper middle class that just don't care as long as they retain what they have.
Not easy for being a new government. He got only 152 from total of 500 members of the house of representative. Up to now , they just only had a dinner and talked for joining coalition party with other party but the negotiation with running no.2 party is that easy. There are many different policy that may be hard for setting a new goverment.
PITA the best
Good reporting. A minor detail: I wish the female political come tator could omit some of her”you know”s. It appeared almost as often as Praiyut’s “krap”a in his speeches.
MFP is our hope.
The last hero
Not yet.Still a few more steps to go before he can officially declare himself as our PM.
If Prayut still grab power by minority Government, Pita should join NUG PDF of Burma to eliminate military which will be soon achieved in Burma. No other means and options to root out crook military.
iam from thailand. it's the beginning The winds of change have arrived.
And this is our modern era.
Since non of the parties are even command 40% of the required vote, than the most acceptable among the other parties are likely to do horse trading. Though I am wondering the anti-monarchy stand of the Forward Party is going to get the support from all the other parties.
They're the only one pushing that so I don't think so
It technically wrong because MFP win party list vote most province across the country from north to south which make other former coalition except UTN got less 1.5 million vote in party list (and that make those party a bit humiliation because they got 1-3 MPs in each party)
@@p_1945 , Are the majority of the Thais people ready to make drastic change, or indeed such change is acceptable by the MAJORITY of the whole population. There are simply too many 'groups" even within the so-called opposition parties.
@@p_1945 , MFP and PT are totally in agreement, they should have entered the election as a single entity. Why didn't they?
@@pahatpahat9566 both have agreement but senator who can vote PM from trick the people address BS reason for didn't vote him but for people, it's no or never accept the reason from senator. any time they said like that people absolutely angry and this may be got this pattern untill the pm vote day which is around two months that really nightmare for senator and opposition party. In normal system they have 310 which is super majority but senator force them got 376 but MFP blackfire them and make people pressure senetor. MFP win in most seat in greater Bangkok and that really mean million of people that can be protestor at parliament. Even parliament constituency MFP really win that too.
They never be single entity because they policy really ton of difference.
The dictator is crying😂
🍊🍊🍊🍊🍊
Not yet though guys don’t congratulation yet .. in Thai law still need to do internal vote and we are dying to see him as a government.. but so many bad politicians who don’t want to vote for him so fingers cross!!! 🥹
🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌
The good thing about Move Forward is that it doesn't rely on a political dynasty like Phey Thai.
ความหวัง 🥹
No party has won, none gets even half. Fractional mixed result, from total 500 seats, 152/500, 141/500, and so on.
Cope, you bootlicker.
Khun PITA makes a coalition with 6 party so the total number will be more than 376 seats
The king won’t allow him to be priminister
When the iron fist comes out from the military and the king history will repeat itself
No-one talk about The King of Thailand.
The people have spoken and if they don't let them there will be protests on the streets.
Only if the military say so
Whoever run Thailand must work for the benefit of Thai & not a puppet of any foreign countries. Hope the thai military will work out a compromise for the benefit for all thai.
Within two years back to square one again.
They're our new hope. Wind of change is coming :-).
I think Thailand's government system is not much different than the United States. Thailand's Prime Minister elected by Senators. The United States' President elected by the electoral votes, not the popular votes.
Good comparison, political powers have to be fairly shared ,and balanced with compromises btw different parties to create stable democratic government. No one party can rule all.
But the senates in Thailand were handpicked by the junta government. They were not elected by the people in Thailand.
Some American critics blame on Thai military for engaging in Thai politics and also blame the Monarchy has too much power over Thai citizens. I see the monarchy in Thailand no longer rules the country. The Prime Minister is the person who runs the Thai government. American journalists or so call pro-democracy groups stop accusing other nations' government systems. The Thai parliament elected Prime Minister is the same as American electoral votes elected the US President. Why accuse the Thai military and monarchy have too much power? My message to Thai citizens, there are certain laws that may need to revise but do not abolish the monarchy of Thailand. Thai monarchy and England's monarchy are good to keep for the nation's symbol.
@@iumienhistorychannel-1491 As Thai people who live in America, reply to your comment I definitely agree with you about “Thai monarchy and English monarchy are good to keep as a symbol for nation. As long as they should not sanction or power(to arrest) over people for any reasons. Whole country should be governed by Prime Minister only. I really like 👍 your comment♥️
@@iumienhistorychannel-1491 In Thailand the Military is not under the authority of the government, they said themselves that they are here to protect the constitutional mo monarch.
The party has come a long way when it comes to form a government. Why does the stock market fall and fall again? A kind that has never happened before in Thailand. During the acceptance of the new government, why, why did Mr. Pita answer?
No point in having all three in the country cause there limited to what they can say about the government and the king
If the MFP or new PM makes any attempt to decriminalize the Monarchy Section-112 Law or makes any amendments to the Law, the military might have to again take control of the government as a way of protecting the Monarchy.
That would not be good for Thailand. Please do not make any changes to section-112 law. 🙏🏽
The people of this country had gone thru a lot of pain under the top boot of Junta. They had succeeded one after another coup for 13 times since the country changed from monarchy system to democratic reform in 1932.The wind of change finally arrived.
People have become so naive...! Even before forming his government he(MF) announced that he would support guerrilla warfare in a neighboring country (Burma Act).
Thailand has its problems, it is an industrial country, it is a tourist country that has a lot of problem itself, with also a guerrilla problem.
AND The first thing he will do is take care of the affairs of a neighbouring country and he says why he is going to do it.
He says he will apply the decree of the "Burma Act" which is not a Thai document, but a document of American diplomacy.
So this progressive party, which looks more like pro-American, was set there to destabilize a country that is allied with China (which is Burma). And that's the first thing they do and decide!
Thailand needs tranquility, needs its Tourism which has China as its first economic partner and which goes to war against China without ever having consulted its population.
So unless you're deaf or blind that's the first thing they say.
Maybe they will but under the supervision of the army. Meaning like in Myanmar next door they can be thrown out when the army wants to.
People elect - Thai army selects!!
That is true unfortunately.....the junta likes their power grip
Well then Thai youth will take charge, like Myanmar youth did. Live free or die hard! Prayut will have serious reckoning if he doesn’t honor people’s will.
@@sonofburma that will be quite a sight if that does happen in Thailand.....anything is possible these days
the next serensky of thailand