A screwdriver in the runs?
After hearing Bhumjaithai Party secretary-general Chaichanok Chidchob claim that the alliance government is surviving on borrowed time in parliament, some people made ominous predictions.
The Pheu Thai Party, the party’s main coalition partner, and Bhumjaithai can’t cover their tense marriage, which has occasionally manifested itself. The latest case was heard loud and clear in life lessons on various radio channels.
Mr. Chaichanok, who caught his fellow MPs off guard, broke the common calm at a recent House meeting to discuss essential agendas.
He took to the ground and pleaded with the House to make a movement on a comprehensive national plan to stop natural tragedies in the midst of the earthquake in Myanmar that erupted in Bangkok, as well as develop an immediate plan to lessen the impact of Washington’s price increases.
Mr Chaichanok credited Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra with demonstrating unusual leadership and commitment to public health reasons. The Buri Ram MP made a pledge to support the top without fail. Except for a piercing bend toward the end of his speech, which threatens to have a profound social impact on the state, his words were music to the perfect leader’s ears.
” I declare before parliament that I, Chaichanok Chidchob, the eldest son of Newin and Karuna Chidchob, and in my capacity as Bhumjaithai Party secretary-general, does not consent to the casino-entertainment complex act, or any related charges in the future, perhaps those which may be presented by Bhumjaithai, in the government’s involvement.
I will not give my expected thought consideration. According to what I have reviewed, there are still unsolved problems that are much more serious and warrant our attention,” Mr. Chaichanok said.
His charter, although eventually dismissed as his personal position by Bhumjathai head Anutin Charnvirakul, was seen as an assault on alliance unity that is already weak.
Pheu Thai stalwarts demanded that the party renounce its rule over Bhumjaithai and refused to let him off the hook.
An observer claimed the irony was that these ruling party leaders vented their anger despite knowing that Bhumjaithai’s departure would cost the coalition 70 seats and put it on thin ice.
The figures may have had enough of watching Bhumjaithai turn against their party again and again.
Phumtham Wechayachai, the deputy prime minister and minister of defense, questioned Bhumjaithai’s hierarchy of command under Mr. Anutin, who also serves as the interior minister.
Is the party headed by Mr. Anutin or Mr. Chaichanok? ” the senior Pheu Thai figure asked.
” Mr. Anutin and the coalition leaders have already discussed the direction,” he said. So who should I trust right now, then? Mr Chaichanok or Mr Anutin?”
Adisorn Piengkes, a member of the Pheu Thai list, criticized Mr. Chaichanok for talking “nonsense” for more than 30 minutes while ignoring the issue of US tariffs on Thai exports.
” If Bhumjaithai cannot align with the coalition’s direction, then they might as well step down.” It’s simple. Don’t stay in the government just to thwart progress, advised Mr. Adisorn.
He also criticized Mr. Chaichanok for using his lineage to advance his position, being the son of Newin Chidchob, the spiritual leader of Bhumjaithai.
The observer noted it was the first time Mr Phumtham and Mr Adisorn, both veteran and well-respected figures in Pheu Thai, had confronted Bhumjaithai verbally.
One compelling reason they were seeing red is that Mr. Chaichanok is Bhumjaithai’s secretary-general. The leader is the party’s top executive, who can address the secretary-general in its name.
At the same time, both the Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai leaders have tried to patch things up.
Anutin and Paetongtarn, the Pheu Thai leader, held a joint press conference to reassure the public that their partnership was not about to collapse, as was widely speculated.
He claimed that Mr. Chaichanok’s statements were his own opinions and not the party’s official position, and that he had sincere apologised to Ms. Paetongtarn for the statement, which may have caused a misunderstanding.
When asked if Bhumjaithai would give its MPs a free vote on the bill, Mr Anutin said”, No. We will back the government.
He further stated that Mr. Chaichanok will have to cast a ballot alongside the group.
Mr Anutin said Mr Chaichanok was suffering from stress and should be given a few days ‘ rest following his controversial speech.
Ms. Paetongtarn suggested that she and her party maintain a close relationship with Mr. Chaichanok and that they do not disagree with his statement. The premier claimed that Mr. Chaichanok’s confusion may have been his cause of his disapproval.
The observer said Mr Anutin may be premature in saying Mr Chaichanok’s casino remarks were a personal view. Other Bhumjaithai heavyweights may share this sentiment.
Chada Thaiset, a Uthai Thani MP, claimed that the draft bill for the casino-entertainment complex was being rushed and poorly thought through even though he has a penchant for gambling and does not oppose legalizing casinos.
The problem stemming from young people and youths freely accessing online gambling represents a myriad of problems that must be dealt with to illustrate the sanctity of the law can be preserved before casinos are made legal, he said.
He also demanded a vote to make a decision on such a contentious and contentious subject.
It’s not as though one can open casinos on a whim. It doesn’t work that way. It requires thorough research and analysis.
Solid groundwork is in order. We’re taking this way too fast”, he said.
After former premier Thaksin Shinawatra reportedly reportedly made a veiled threat that coalition partners may be dumped if they disagreed with the casino-entertainment complex bill, Somsak Prissanantakul, the father of deputy House speaker Paradorn Prissanantakul and Bhumjaithai executive Korrawee Prissanantakul, appealed to coalition party leaders to pull out of the government.
Shuffling the middle of the pack
A cabinet reshuffle is being widely predicted to take place this month, although changes will likely be limited to the ruling Pheu Thai Party.
Thaksin: Under legal repression
The strongest signal to date came from former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the party’s alleged de facto leader, despite repeated denials from senior government figures.
Thaksin was quoted as saying last weekend that if any cabinet changes were to be made, it would involve shuffling positions rather than altering the line-up of coalition parties.
His remarks came in response to persistent rumors about a reshuffle amid growing tensions between the ruling party and its coalition partner, Bhumjaithai.
According to some experts, a small reshuffle in the works was sparked by public dissatisfaction with some underperforming ministers, as revealed in a recent Nida Poll survey. Many respondents expected the commerce minister and the agriculture and cooperatives minister to be replaced.
Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan, Deputy Interior Minister Theerarat Samrejvanich, and Deputy Finance Minister Paopoom Rojanasakul are among the Pheu Thai ministers who are expected to lose their jobs.
Phumtham Wechayachai’s appointment as the deputy prime minister will likely be replaced by his position as defense minister. However, he will likely take over at the Commerce Ministry– the post he held in the Srettha Thavisin administration.
List MP Anusorn Iamsa-ard is likely to succeed Prime Minister’s Office Minister Jiraporn Sindhuprai, who may succeed Mr. Paopoom, while Sutin Klungsang is rumored to make a return to the Defence Ministry.
Wisut Chainaroon, a member of the Pheu Thai list, is expected to take the place of Ms. Theerarat, and there are also rumors that tourism and sports minister Sorawong Thienthong may be dropped from the new lineup.
According to observers, Bhumjaithai, the second-largest party in the government, is off-limits in the much-anticipated reshuffle due to Pheu Thai’s concerns over the passage of key pieces of legislation, including the casino-entertainment complex bill, where coalition support is required.
According to Olarn Thinbangtieo, a lecturer in political science at Burapha University, there is uncertainty over whether Bhumjaithai might “betray” Pheu Thai or undermine its efforts to advance the casino policy.
The two parties have been roiling over each other.
The ruling party is believed to be pulling strings in the Department of Special Investigation ( DSI) probe against dozens of senators with close ties to Bhumjaithai over alleged vote fixing in last year’s Senate election.
The DSI has made a decision to look into many of them for alleged money laundering.
Anutin Charnvirakul, the leader of Bhumjaithai, is regarded as sending a clear message that his party supports the conservative camp, according to Mr. Olarn, despite his full support for Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s leadership and his respect for her father, Thaksin.
Several economic problems remain unresolved, with a growing public perception that the government has not adequately addressed people’s hardship, said Mr Olarn.
Even if it doesn’t help the government very much, the reshuffle is necessary. At least Pheu Thai can demonstrate to the people that the government is responsive by removing ministers who have performed poorly, he said, without providing a better explanation.
According to Mr Olarn, Thaksin is under legal pressure from the lese majeste case he is facing, which has reportedly restricted his political moves. He feels compelled to show that he is the only person capable of handling the “orange” camp, which is a reference to the People’s Party ( PP ), which conservatives view as a challenge.
The attorney-general indicted Thaksin on charges of lee majeste and computer crime in connection with an interview conducted on February 21, 2015 in Seoul, South Korea, on May 29 last year.
Thaksin was alleged to have defamed the monarchy while speaking with South Korea’s Chosun Ilbo when he claimed privy councillors supported the 2014 coup that ousted the government of his younger sister, fugitive former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
Thaksin’s involvement in the computer crime charge stemmed from him entering information into a computer system that he felt threatened the security of the country.
Some analysts saw the conservative establishment’s insistence that the former prime minister had to honor a political agreement with the old power groups when they indict Thaksin.
Thaksin returned from self-imposed exile in August 2023 to face jail time on the day Pheu Thai candidate Mr Srettha was endorsed as prime minister. The two most significant political developments were thought to be the result of prior political agreements between Thaksin and the old power groups.
Mr. Olarn stated that Thaksin is aware that the conservative camp views his own “red” Pheu Thai Party as a greater threat and that no one can fend off that threat without him.