Protests and demonstrations erupt in Bangkok, causing Pita to lose his candidacy as prime minister | Thailand | candidate
The reformist faction led by the Far Progressive Party won the Thai general election in May, but the leader of the Far Progressive Party, Pita, was suspended from his parliamentary position on July 19, depriving him of his candidacy for prime minister and causing political turmoil in Thailand. People are taking to the streets for protests, and the Prime Minister's vote is still in chaos. Thailand's future is shrouded in mist.
According to the Bangkok Post on July 20th, Thai people are very dissatisfied with the loss of parliamentary positions and Prime Minister candidate qualifications by Far Progressive Party leader Pita on July 19th. Supporters of the Far Progressive Party took to the streets on the same day to protest against the "unfair actions" of the Thai Constitutional Court and senators.
In the center of Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, hundreds of protesters marched through the night, holding up giant banners with slogans supporting Pita. The organizers of the march stated that they will continue to "fight in various forms and remind senators to reform."
According to previous reports, on July 19th, the Thai Constitutional Court accepted a case of Pita illegally holding shares in a closed media company and announced the suspension of his parliamentary position during the investigation. On the same day, both houses of the Thai parliament passed a resolution prohibiting Pita from running for prime minister for a second time.
The Bangkok Post analyzed that the timing of the Thai Constitutional Court's order disrupted the election process for both houses of parliament. In May, the court received a report that there was a two-month period before the Prime Minister's vote in July to handle this matter. However, the Thai Constitutional Court delayed until the day of the second vote when it decided to suspend Pita's membership as a member of parliament. This timing seemed to have been carefully designed. In the eyes of many supporters of the Far Progressive Party and reformist voters, this is strong evidence of the Judicialization of Thai politics, indicating that conservatives are using non political and undemocratic means to forcefully obstruct the reformists who won the election from coming to power.
Plinye Tayewanarumitku, an assistant professor of law at the University of Law and Politics of Thailand, questioned the selective enforcement of the Thai Constitutional Court. He stated that in previous similar rulings, over 25 conservative lawmakers holding shares in media companies were allowed to continue serving as legislators and were ruled by the Constitutional Court to have no violations. "If similar rulings are referred to before, different decisions may be made."
The Bangkok Times pointed out that within the framework of democratic elections, the defeat of pro military political parties has proven the will of the people in Thailand. The ongoing obstruction of reformist movements by the Constitutional Court and military appointed legislators may lead to further unrest, and the current demonstrations are just the beginning.
At present, the organizational issues of the new Thai government are still shrouded in confusion. There are reports that the Far Progressive Party may be forced to withdraw from the eight party alliance formed under its leadership. The second largest political party in the alliance, the Thai Party, may soften its stance and make certain compromises with the military in exchange for the support of conservative parties and upper house lawmakers in forming its cabinet. However, at a civilian rally on the 19th, the protesters warned the Thai party not to be traitors and demanded that the existing eight party alliance closely unite and continue to fulfill its commitments.