Gangster government and the monarchy

A few days ago we posted on Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul inviting Privy Council members to participate in a government meeting on preparations for an expected drought on 19 May with the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Command.

This event was criticized by the opposition as placing the Privy Council in a political and administrative position that was not in line with the constitution. Anutin defended the meeting with privy councilors as “a normal practice.”

Indeed, it seems that Anutin wants to use the monarchy for the political legitimization of his regime. In some ways, this is reminiscent of conservative royalism of the Gen Prem Tinsulanonda regime in the 1980s, although Prem had never faced the electorate. Seeing Anutin slither before royals is also reminiscent of Gen Prem, who repeatedly threw himself at the feet of royals. It was also Prem who encouraged the then king, unqualified on anything at all, to provide “advice” to officials.

It seems that Anutin does want to make royal involvement in administration “normal,” with Thai Enquirer’s Facebook page reporting another “royal delegation” inspecting “progress on development projects at Ko Sichang aimed at improving water security, waste management, renewable energy and tourism infrastructure under the island’s master development plan.”

That visit was reportedly “led by Air Chief Marshal Satitpong Sukvimol, principal private secretary to the King, alongside Interior Ministry officials, Chonburi provincial authorities and Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin.”

Making government royal again is an interesting approach to legitimacy but may be a dangerous political strategy for Anutin and for the palace.