One man’s notice could kindle another man’s passion for a general election, certainly that one is in the network.
What they believe to be an early election, which has spooked some politicians, which is being fueled by the Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai events ‘ growing differences, has spooked some officials.
Ties have been largely respectful since they formed the government following last year’s public vote.
Bhumjaithai landed the desired Interior Ministry, among other beloved government assets. The article of interior minister has been held by party chief Anutin Charnvirakul uninterrupted, second under Srettha Thavisin and then under Paethongtarn Shinawatra’s leadership.
There is no disputing the internal minister’s porfolio’s significant control over the administration. It is usually reserved for the ruling party, although under Pheu Thai leadership, the ruling gathering decided to give it to Bhumjaithai, a sign showing the latter’s understanding of the latter’s powerful position as a negotiator, according to an observer.
But, relations between the two parties have been put to the test at days.
During the previous government, next prime minister Mr Srettha declared he was moving to categorize hemp as a narcotic — a reversal of Bhumjaithai’s scheme to decriminalise the flower, which was properly implemented in 2022 during the Prayut Chan-o-cha management.
Pheu Thai made a compromise by backing the passage of a bill to regulate cannabis use for research and medical purposes, a move that was widely accepted as a sign that the plant would continue to be on the drug list.
More friction is on the horizon as a result of the Srettha government’s transition to the current administration.
The two parties disagreed on the size of the majority needed to pass a referendum on the charter amendment. To facilitate passage of constitutional amendments, the 200-member Senate overturned the House of Representatives ‘ decision to use a simple majority rather than a double majority.
Critics accused Bhumjaithai of possibly pulling the Senate’s strings, considering that more than half the senators are labelled as having a “blue” affiliation. Blue is the colour of Bhumjaithai.
The party abstained from voting to reject the Senate’s move” for the sake of being thorough”. The joint House-Senate committee’s inability to resolve the issue over the size of the majority needed for charter referendums to pass is expected to put off further development of charter amendments until the current government’s tenure.
The latest test of Pheu Thai-Bhumjaithai ties comes in the form of the Khao Kradong land controversy in Buri Ram, Bhumjaithai’s political stronghold.
The State Railway of Thailand ( SRT ) and the Department of Lands ( DoL ) may have an open-ended dispute, which could cause divisions between the two coalition partners.
This is because Mr. Anutin, who is the interior minister, is in charge of overseeing the SRT while Transport Minister Suriya Jungrangreangkit of Pheu Thai is in charge of the DoL.
Bhumjaithai has been the worst affected by the controversy. The Chidchob family, which founded the party and runs several businesses, including the Buriram International Circuit and a 32, 600-seat football stadium, is reportedly linked to the controversy.
The dispute centers on 5, 083 land plots in the Khao Kradong region of Buri Ram’s Muang district, which total 5, 083 rai. The SRT is attempting to reclaim the plots, accusing the DoL of being dishonest because it has issued land papers to undocumented residents.
After the Supreme Court declared the land belonged to the SRT in the same year, the SRT filed a lawsuit with the Administrative Court in September 2021, demanding that the DoL remove its 900 land title deeds and remove all occupants from its property.
Of the 900 land title deeds, 12, which covered 179 rai, reportedly belonged to the Chidchob family.
The observer suggested that Pheu Thai could choose to leave the conflict unresolved and keep the government intact, or to play hardball close to the end of the government’s rule and use its electoral muscle against Bhumajthai.
Pheu Thai list MP Cherdchai Tantisirin, who recently cited the charter amendment referendum as ammunition for firing a salvo at Bhumjaithai, is apparently not moving quickly enough with the Khao Kradong tussle.
He claimed that a House dissolution could be avoided if the debate over the required size of the majority for a charter referendum drags on into a full-fledged conflict, leading to Bhumjaithai’s withdrawal from the coalition.
Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, a renowned figure in Pheu Thai, promptly disregarded the remark. Dr. Cherdchai’s comment was solely a matter of opinion, and Mr. Phumtham assured the coalition that it was still solid as it always was.
” One must approach it with maturity and calm. Wouldn’t we need to dissolve the House several times a day if we get sucked into the House-dissolution debate? According to Mr. Phumtham, the premier does not care to dissolve because nothing would allow it to.
Weighing in, PP leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut said disbanding the House was the prime minister’s privilege.
The PP was at the ready with” every passing minute” for an election. The party reiterates that it will continue to push for significant charter amendments to democratize the country’s politics, Mr. Natthaphong said.
Some analysts are unsure, however, whether PP will win in the upcoming election by a wide margin.
If Pheu Thai succeeds in its populist handout projects and restores red-shirt support in the provinces, they fear the party will struggle to expand its support base.
Falling on , deaf ears
Following sharp criticism from former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra during a ruling party seminar last week, the relationship between the Pheu Thai Party and its coalition partners is closely monitored.
Thaksin: Not with the times
Thaksin accused some coalition parties of being untalented, citing the absence of their ministers from the Dec. 11 cabinet meeting, at which two executive decrees were on the agenda.
” If you don’t want to be part of this]coalition government], then leave. But if you’re in, you must be upfront and committed because these policies are part of the government’s agenda.
You raised your hands in support while the government policy statement was being delivered, but you did so after ministerial seats were given. This isn’t how things work”, Thaksin said at the seminar in Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan, on Dec 13.
According to Thaksin, he despised” sneaky” behaviour and warned that those skipping future cabinet meetings would be better off leaving the Pheu Thai-led government.
Energy Minister and Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul, as well as Deputy Agriculture Minister Akkhara Prompow from a breakaway faction, and Interior Minister and Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul, were among the cabinet ministers who took a leave of absence from the Dec. 11 meeting.
However, Mr Anutin cut short a doctor’s appointment to attend the meeting after receiving a call from PM’s secretary-general Prommin Lertsuriyadej.
Democrat Party Deputy Public Health Minister Dech-it Khaothong and Natural Resources and Environment Minister Chalermchai Sri-on reportedly skipped the meeting without giving a written notice of absence.
Thaksin’s criticism was viewed as provocative and inappropriate by a number of political observers. However, given the coalition parties ‘ responses, they apparently consider such criticism too insignificant to warrant attention.
According to the report, Mr. Anutin claimed that his party was open to Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the head of the government, and that he was not overly worried about what her father said.
Akanat Promphan, secretary-general of the UTN and the industry minister who attended the meeting and supported the decrees, said he was not bothered by Thaksin’s remarks and believed minor issues should be overlooked.
According to observers, it is not the only time Thaksin, accused of wielding considerable influence over the ruling party, has made such comments against coalition partners.
He criticized the Bhumjaithai Party last week for decrying a bill to amend the Defence Ministry Administration Act to stop future coups.
Thaksin criticized Bhumjaithai, calling its move an attempt to gain popularity, and cited the proverb” trying to look good but doing it too soon.”
He suggested that the coalition party ought to have spoken with Pheu Thai before rejecting the amendment’s sponsor, which was an MP from Pheu Thai and not the party itself.
Unperturbed, Mr Anutin clarified the party had acted on principle in opposing the bill and that his remarks reflected Bhumjaithai’s stance, not that of the entire coalition.
The political and public policy analysis institute director Thanaporn Sriyakul told the Bangkok Post that he thought Mr. Dech-it, who was once a member of the dissolved Thai Rak Thai Party led by Thaksin, might be the source of Thaksin’s outrage.
However, Thaksin’s “outburst” is pointless and shows that the former premier is unaware that the political landscape has changed vastly since he was prime minister seat, he said.
The analyst said that Thaksin must still be living in the past because he was 20 years ago when he was in power and wanted to remind everyone to respect his own daughter’s authority.
Mr. Thanaporn claims that Mr. Anutin has come out as a political force in his own right and does not respond to Thaksin.
With the full support of Bhumjaithai’s founder, veteran politician and power broker Newin Chidchob, the leader of the Bhumjaithai government, who is regarded as holding one of the most powerful ministerial portfolios, is prepared to face Pheu Thai in the upcoming general election.
He added that the Pheu Thai-led government is motivated by political will, with coalition partners primarily focused on advancing their own agendas while preparing for the upcoming elections.
” Let’s face it… when the election comes, they’ll all turn into rivals.
” Pheu Thai will be up against the main opposition, the People’s Party, and definitely also the Bhumjaithai Party. No one is taking the cues from the ruling party’s big boss, “he said, apparently referring to Thaksin.