Following our previous post, things have moved quickly.
In the morning today, People’s Party leader Natthapong Ruengpanyawut confirmed that the party will vote for Anutin Charnvirakul as the new PM. For some party supporters, this is a disaster, although others saw it as a strategy to force Puea Thai to call an election.
According to a Khaosod English Facebook post written by Pravit Rojanaphruk, Natthapong explains, “the decision wasn’t made for popularity and warns that if the Bhumjaithai Party breaks its promise [on constitutional referendum and an election], it will be punished by the people.” He added that the decision came after considering feedback from 25,000 members.
Natthapong says “he has no regrets about his choice and will use their 143 voices to oversee the “minority government.”
On reports that the government would dissolve parliament, Natthapong referred to “uncertainty.”
He added that Bhum Jai Thai must sign an agreement with the People’s Party, accepting its conditions and announce it to the public. On the risks of supporting Anutin and accepting his guarantees, he said:
However, [in] the current situation, if we agree that what the people want most is to move toward an election while also opening the door to drafting a new constitution, the question is, can the People’s Party achieve that by doing nothing and not choosing anyone? At the same time, the 143 voices we have can guide the direction toward that goal, a risk that we have carefully evaluated.
As for Bhum Jai Thai, he added:
If you break your promise to the people once again, I believe we have already seen what happens to political parties that break their promises…. Therefore, our practical duty now is to try and guide the Bhumjaithai Party and Mr. Anutin to sign the agreement and announce their commitment to moving toward dissolving parliament to draft a new constitution…. I understand that in practice, the written words in these conditions might be twisted, but if that happens, it will be a cost they will have to bear.
At that time, the agreement had not been signed. Not long after, Anutin announced that he was ready to lead a minority government.
Then, Puea Thai moved. Pravit wrote at Facebook:
In the end, the hatred towards Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnveerakul and the perception that he was a junior figure under former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, almost like a former subordinate of Thaksin … led to the Pheu Thai Party to go for the dissolution of Parliament.
The submission of the royal decree to the king on dissolution was confirmed by Acting PM Phumtham Wechayachai. Under the constitution, the king may not sign.
Bhum Jai Thai then submitted a motion to Parliament’s Speaker to put the prime minister’s vote on the agenda, after Anutin announced the formation of a 146-seat minority government.
It seems that much remains some road to travel….
*From Khaosod English Facebook page:
The signed agreement between the People’s Party and the Bhum Jai Thai is for the selection of a person to hold the position of Prime Minister has the following details:
Following the Constitutional Court’s ruling that Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra was removed from the position of Prime Minister, and that the entire Cabinet was also removed, the House of Representatives must consider and approve a suitable person to be appointed as Prime Minister in accordance with Section 159 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand. The Prachachon Party and the Bhumjaithai Party agree that the new Prime Minister must manage the country’s administration to solve urgent and pressing issues in the short term, hold a referendum for a new constitution, and dissolve the House of Representatives.
The Members of Parliament of the People’s Party will approve Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul as the new Prime Minister under the following conditions agreed upon by the Prachachon Party and the Bhumjaithai Party:
The new Prime Minister must dissolve the House of Representatives within 4 months from the date of the policy statement to Parliament to hold a general election.
In the event that the Constitutional Court rules that a referendum is necessary before Parliament can amend the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, 2017, in accordance with Section 256, the new Cabinet must hold a referendum on the amendment of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, 2017, to lead to the creation of a new constitution by an elected Constitution Drafting Assembly as soon as possible, but no later than the date of the general election.
In the event that the Constitutional Court rules that a referendum is not necessary before Parliament can amend the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, 2017, in accordance with Section 256, the new Cabinet, the People’s Party, and the Bhumjaithai Party will urgently push for an amendment draft to establish a process for creating a new constitution by an elected Constitution Drafting Assembly, to be completed as soon as possible within the term of this House of Representatives.
To guarantee that the new Prime Minister will truly dissolve the House of Representatives within 4 months, the Bhumjaithai Party must not take any action to form a majority government.
The People’s Party confirms it will remain in opposition and will fully scrutinize the new government’s administration, and no person from the Prachachon Party will hold a ministerial position.
Political Prisoners in Thailand 
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