Protesters Take to the Streets as Progressive Leader Denied Chance at Prime Ministerial Position
Bangkok, Thailand – Demonstrations erupted in Bangkok on Wednesday following the suspension of progressive leader Pita Limjaroenrat by Thailand’s conservative establishment. Lawmakers denied Limjaroenrat the opportunity to stand for a second parliamentary vote for prime minister, sparking outrage among his supporters.
Limjaroenrat, who leads the Move Forward party, garnered the most votes in the May election with a platform centered around ambitious reforms that challenged the powerful conservative establishment in the country. Despite this, he lost in his initial bid for prime minister last week.
Late on Wednesday, lawmakers voted against allowing Limjaroenrat, 42, to participate in a second vote, citing Parliament’s rules that do not permit a “repeat motion.” Supporters of Limjaroenrat viewed this decision as a deliberate attempt to keep him out of power.
The atmosphere in Bangkok was tense as protesters took to the streets, expressing their anger towards an establishment that often obstructs Thailand’s democratic process. Wichuda Rotphai, 41, one of the hundreds who gathered outside Parliament, expressed disappointment and disbelief, stating, “I’m still disappointed, and I can’t accept it.”
So, what does Pita Limjaroenrat stand for? His Move Forward party has proposed ambitious policies aimed at challenging Thailand’s powerful institutions, including the military and the monarchy. The party won the most seats in Parliament with 151, surpassing Pheu Thai, the party founded by exiled populist Thaksin Shinawatra, who still wields considerable influence in Thai politics.
Limjaroenrat’s party formed an eight-party coalition that nominated him for prime minister, but he fell short in the first vote due to opposition from military-appointed senators who oppose his candidacy and the Move Forward platform.
The tie between the senators and the military has confused many. The rules governing Senate appointments were drafted by the military junta that seized power in a 2014 coup, effectively granting senators veto power over prime ministerial candidates. In the previous vote, Limjaroenrat only secured 13 votes from the 249 senators.
Limjaroenrat acknowledged the slim chances of becoming prime minister in an Instagram post, stating, “It’s clear now that in the current system, winning the people’s trust isn’t enough to run the country.”
Why was Limjaroenrat’s path to prime minister an uphill battle? He faced numerous challenges even before Parliament denied him a second vote. The Constitutional Court suspended him from Parliament until a ruling is made regarding his shares in a media company. Investigators are looking into whether Limjaroenrat properly disclosed his ownership of the shares, as required by Thai law.
The court’s ruling forced Limjaroenrat to leave the chamber, but it would not have prevented his coalition from renominating him. However, Parliament derailed that possibility on its own. Supporters of Limjaroenrat believe that these investigations and actions are part of the establishment’s concerted effort to impede his candidacy.
So, who will be the next prime minister? Limjaroenrat stated that if it were apparent that he couldn’t win, his party would allow its coalition partner, Pheu Thai, to nominate its own candidate. Pheu Thai is likely to do just that and form a new coalition, potentially more acceptable to conservative lawmakers who reject Limjaroenrat and the Move Forward party.
Srettha Thavisin, a 60-year-old property mogul with limited political experience, is the likely candidate from Pheu Thai. If a new coalition materializes, Thavisin could become prime minister as early as this week.
Thavisin’s victory would represent a triumph for the democratic process in Thailand, receiving praise from many who see a potential boost for the nation’s struggling, coronavirus-impacted economy. However, Move Forward’s progressive supporters would remain indignant at the establishment’s obstruction of their party’s efforts to form a government. Demonstrations reflecting this frustration were already forming at Bangkok’s Democracy Monument.
The magnitude of these protests in the coming days or weeks will likely depend on who becomes prime minister. If it’s Thavisin, demonstrations could be sporadic and modest. However, if it’s a military figure like General Prawit Wongsuwan, 77, sustained and intense protests could ensue.
Wichuda, one of the protesters, voiced her concerns over the unfair treatment faced by Limjaroenrat, saying, “If they can do such things to people with money and power, what will be left for us, the common people, who have no position and no title?”
The political landscape in Thailand remains uncertain as the nation waits to see who will ultimately assume the role of prime minister and how the public will continue to respond to these developments.