Mentors Posted December 6, 2008 Report Share Posted December 6, 2008 The Democrat Party and defectors from the government coalition have gained a majority in the House and will form a government with Abhisit Vejjajiva as prime minister, the party claimed on Saturday. Democrat secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban said the influential Friends of Newin faction from the Northeast had agreed to join the coalition. Other defectors from the dysfunctional government - effectively dissolved last Tuesday by the Constitution Court - include members of the former Chart Thai and Matchimatipataya, as well as Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana and Puea Pandin. The defections of the minor parties give the Democrats theoretical control of the 500-seat House of Representatives, and the right to try to name a prime minister when the House meets on Monday. There is no guarantee of this, however. Control of the House is unclear, because the Constitution Court's decision to dissolve three parties and ban 109 politicians created more than 25 vacancies. Mr Suthep and defectors held a press conference on Saturday evening. The Democrats' main fund-raiser said the party will establish a new government and promote Mr Abhisit as the new prime minister. In apparent reaction and disarray, the pro-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) called off its plans to rally in front of the parliament on Sunday and Monday, in order to see who will be the next prime minister. Veera Musikapong, leader of the "red-shirt group," said on Saturday the UDD will still hold the mobile political talk show known as Kwam Jing Wan Nee (Truth Today) next Saturday at Supachalasai Stadium, the former national stadium in downtown Bangkok. He said the UDD will not accept the government that is formed unconstitutionally, but it was unclear what he meant by that. Another UDD leader Jatuporn Phrompan insisted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will make his phone-in address next Saturday. BANGKOK POST Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavanami Posted December 6, 2008 Report Share Posted December 6, 2008 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mekong Posted December 6, 2008 Report Share Posted December 6, 2008 I will keep this short and sweet since I usually butt out from Thai Politics Coalittion with Democrats YES Abhisit as PM NO Even though this is the opinion I have had for a few days, its also what I have been told by Democratic Moderate Thai friends without prompting ie the children of the elite who have been educated and lived / worked overseas and have (IMHO) realistic viewpoints. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bangkoktraveler Posted December 6, 2008 Report Share Posted December 6, 2008 Thaksin Shinawatra still keeps the pot stirring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drogon Posted December 6, 2008 Report Share Posted December 6, 2008 Fully agree with mekong. Democrats yes sure but my Thai relations also don't want him as PM.... If democrats are intelligent then they would elect a consensual PM which would stop the UDD to do "same same" PAD... And yes Mr T will likely not be happy with that -> expect more bombs I suppose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted December 6, 2008 Report Share Posted December 6, 2008 I will keep this short and sweet since I usually butt out from Thai Politics Coalittion with Democrats YES Abhisit as PM NO Even though this is the opinion I have had for a few days, its also what I have been told by Democratic Moderate Thai friends without prompting ie the children of the elite who have been educated and lived / worked overseas and have (IMHO) realistic viewpoints. They don't think Abhisit is capable??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khunsanuk Posted December 6, 2008 Report Share Posted December 6, 2008 Hi, My wife loves Abhisit, but I think it has more to do with his looks than his political views / skills Sanuk! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mekong Posted December 6, 2008 Report Share Posted December 6, 2008 Flash what has he demonstrated that would be acceptable to the average Thai Voter? Born In Newcastle in England, Eton College then a First Class honours from Oxford in Philosophy Politics and Economics then went on to do his Masters in Economics at Oxford. He Lectured in Economics at Thammasat briefly before taking his Bachelors in Law at Ramkhamhaeng. He is too much "Farangised" for most Thais to accept to be PM, and since he has replaced Banyat he has missed more than one opportunity to take advantage, now whether that was his own weekness of a lack of cross party support I really don't know. As I say, I don't offer my opinion on Thai politics, it is not my place to do so, but I am party to discussions amongst my wife and her associates, including the non hetrosexual educated males we have discussed previously. The concencious of opinion I hear is that Abhisit is more than capable of making a go of it but only from behind the scenes, he wont be fully accepted as a party leader let alone a Prime Minister. Not an opinion just an observation! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drogon Posted December 6, 2008 Report Share Posted December 6, 2008 Girlfriend and her friends would love to have him as PM (they believe he is the msot honest among Thai politicians -> being less corrupt than others) but they also admit that he is not a good choice for PM They think: - He has far more grasp of the world outside Thailand and the importance of economy (seems he has many friends among companies in Thailand) - He is more honest than most other Thai politicians (I suppose it means that he is less corrupt than the others) - He has a good education and thus is more able to manage the country Negative side pointed by them: - He can't become PM because he would either be considered as "elitist educated BKKians" by most other Thais - He is not well enough introduced in the "local politican power circles" -> This is what my girlfriend's friends think, they are mostly middle class Thais with a few ones lucky enough to have studied abroad. Me thinks it could be a change for Thailand and they have nothing more to loose trying a new formula... What the outcome will be? Time will tell Wait and see Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drogon Posted December 6, 2008 Report Share Posted December 6, 2008 If the democrats succeed in forming a majority on monday -> Today's Top Stories >> Saturday December 06, 2008 21:04 Democrats take over If you have your ideas about this news, share it with others, here! Enter your search terms Submit search form Web www.bangkokpost.com Democrats take over Potjaman back Selection stalemate Hoping, hopelessly King mildly ill Airport to reopen Record cuts Summit regret First plane out Protesters abandon airports The Democrat Party and defectors from the government coalition have gained a majority in the House and will form a government with Abhisit Vejjajiva as prime minister, the party claimed on Saturday. Democrat secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban said the influential Friends of Newin faction from the Northeast had agreed to join the coalition. The defection of Buri Ram politician Newin tips the political scales and creates new possible scenarios. Sakda Khongpetch, leader of the Isan Pattana faction that has remained loyal to Thaksin, said that the House could be dissolved and a new election called "as a tool to punish the (Newin) group". Mr Newin made a dramatic announcement that he was abandoning fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawtra, who still is the icon of the former Thai Rak Thai (now Puea Thai) governing party. "Time is up for a person with power to return to the country by holding the people hostage," he said. Other defectors from the dysfunctional government - effectively dissolved last Tuesday by the Constitution Court - include members of the former Chart Thai and Matchimatipataya, as well as Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana and Puea Pandin. The defections of the minor parties give the Democrats theoretical control of the 500-seat House of Representatives, and the right to try to name a prime minister when the House meets on Monday. There is no guarantee of this, however. Control of the House is unclear, because the Constitution Court's decision to dissolve three parties and ban 109 politicians created more than 25 vacancies. Mr Suthep and defectors held a press conference on Saturday evening. The Democrats' main fund-raiser said the party will establish a new government and promote Mr Abhisit as the new prime minister. In apparent reaction and disarray, the pro-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) called off its plans to rally in front of the parliament on Sunday and Monday, in order to see who will be the next prime minister. --------------------------------------- Veera Musikapong, leader of the "red-shirt group," said on Saturday the UDD will still hold the mobile political talk show known as Kwam Jing Wan Nee (Truth Today) next Saturday at Supachalasai Stadium, the former national stadium in downtown Bangkok. He said the UDD will not accept the government that is formed unconstitutionally, but it was unclear what he meant by that. Another UDD leader Jatuporn Phrompan insisted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will make his phone-in address next Saturday. (BangkokPost.com) ------------------------------------------- Could it be that after a public protest lead by the PAD forced a "democratically elected" government to resign that the PAD leads a protest against a new Democrat-led "democratically created" government? Thailand political scene is fascinating almost as much as a Thai soap opera... :onfire: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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