Some Red Shirts Fight On(A Thai Election Thread)

[Shrillland]

I know what you're thinking. Normally, I don't do election threads for Southeast Asia, least of all nations where the military has a high degree of control. But Thailand actually has a pretty lively vote coming up on Sunday, May 14, so here's a thread for it. Thai PM Gen. Prayuth Chan-Ocha just announced that the election will take place after there were doubts the military would allow it, and it's quite clear right now that Prayuth's pro-military Palang Pracharath Party is going to be unseated from the government.

In its place, most polls have the centre-right and populist Pheu Thais winning a possible majority. This is important because the Pheu Thais are the reincarnation of the old People's Power Party and its predecessor, the TRT AKA the Red Shirts of the Shinawatra family, who was wildly popular with much of the public and saw, under both PPP(under Thaksin SInawatra) and Pheu Thai eras(under Thaksin's younger sister, Yingluck), two military coups to remove them in 2006 and 2014, respectively. Now they're back, and Thaksin's daughter, Paethongtarn Shinawatra, is going to be their lead candidate and expected PM. Whether she'll be PM remains to be seen, however, because...well, let me explain.

The House of Representatives has 500 seats divided into 400 FPTP seats and 100 list seats in a national constituency with no threshold. As for the PM...it isn't automatically given to a party leader. To be nominated for the premiership, a candidate has to come from a party with at least 25 seats in the House. Each party can name up to three candidates who don't even have to be MPs, and the PM is selected in a joint session of the National Assembly...and that's where things get more dicey with the Senate. The Senate has 250 members, all of whom are chosen by a special panel selected by the Military. If united, they could block candidates from the House unless the House manages to unite against them.

So, will the people's power manage to overcome the military? Will the military get their way? Will another junta come into being this year? Stay tuned and find out.

In the meantime, here are the largest parties for you to look over with their candidates:

Pheu Thai(For Thais) Party(PTP) led by Chonlanan Srikaew with candidate Paethongtarn Shinawatra: Centre to Centre-right, Anti-junta, Economic Liberal, Populist

Move Forward Party led by Pita Limjaroenrat: Centre-left, Antimilitarist, Progressive, Social Democratic

Palang Prachrath(People's State Power) Party(PPP) led by Prawit Wongsuwan: Right Wing, Right Populist, National Conservative, Militarist

United Thai Nation Party led by current PM Gen. Prayuth Chan-Ocha: Far Right, Nationalist, Personalist, Militarist, Authoritarian

Democrat Party led by Jurin Laksanawisit: Centre to Centre-right, Classical Liberal, Liberal Conservative

Bhunjaithai(Thai Pride) Party(BJT) led by Anutin Charnvirakul: Centre, Populist, Decentralist

Thai Liberal Party(TLP) led by Sereepisuth Temeeyaves: Centre to Centre-left, Antimilitarist, Social Liberal, Progressive

So, who's your pick? For me, I'm standing with Pita and Move Forward. I know the Red Shirts may be what Thialand needs right now, but I'm thinking of a post-militayr-dominant future if such can happen.

[Thermodolia]

I’d personally go with PTP. Though hopefully them and move forward can work together in ousting the junta

[Risottia]

I’d personally go with PTP. Though hopefully them and move forward can work together in ousting the junta

In a country where the king uses the Navy's only aircraft carrier as his personal yacht?

[Thermodolia]

I’d personally go with PTP. Though hopefully them and move forward can work together in ousting the junta

In a country where the king uses the Navy's only aircraft carrier as his personal yacht?

Hey a man can dream. Shame that Vajiralongkorn isn’t like his father King Bhumibol the Great.

Guy is apparently a major douche

[HISPIDA]

thailand have shitty royal standards challenge (impossible)

anyways even though it's been banned and is completely defunct i wish best wishes for the communist party of thailand inshallah

[Shrillland]

Democrats vow to improve air quality nationwide

[The Jamesian Republic]

Is there a party that’s kind of left leaning and pro democracy?

[Shrillland]

Is there a party that’s kind of left leaning and pro democracy?

Both the TLP and Move Forward fit that bill, and the last polls had Move Forward at about 16.6%, but there haven't been polls in three months.

[The Jamesian Republic]

Is there a party that’s kind of left leaning and pro democracy?

Both the TLP and Move Forward fit that bill, and the last polls had Move Forward at about 16.6%, but there haven't been polls in three months.

Looking on Wikipedia I think Move Forward will be who I support.

[Suriyanakhon]

Pheu Thai(For Thais) Party(PTP) led by Chonlanan Srikaew with candidate Paethongtarn Shinawatra: Centre to Centre-right, Anti-junta, Economic Liberal, Populist

Oh great, another member of that wretched family running for office.

[Saor Alba]

It will be wonderful for Thailand to have a competent, liberal democratic government once more. Paethongtarn Shinawatra is very young too which is nice to see.

[Shrillland]

National Assembly officially dissolved for the upcoming vote

[Bombadil]

Pheu Thai(For Thais) Party(PTP) led by Chonlanan Srikaew with candidate Paethongtarn Shinawatra: Centre to Centre-right, Anti-junta, Economic Liberal, Populist

Oh great, another member of that wretched family running for office.

Don't worry, if she does win the military will just take over again, the city elite won't allow for taxes to help support the rural community.

[Shrillland]

Election's been set for a week later than expected

[Shrillland]

The first poll's up from about two weeks ago, Pheu Thai's polling around 50% with Move Forward at 17%, UTN at 12%

Paethongtarn's the preferred PM as well with a plurality at 38% supporting her. Pita and Prayut are statistically tied at 15.7% apiece.

[Diuhon]

it's thailand

no matter who the thai vote, the military always wins, especially with bhumibol's wastrel son reigning in calls for reform

should the thai at least be grateful that their military doesn't usually put them to the sword as the neighboring state of tatmadaw is now doing and has done to its ungrateful peasantry from the safety of the unassailable fake royal capital of literally an empty void save for the power vested within naypyidaw? should they count their blessings that the prayut chan-ochas will allow them the luxury of democracy?

of course they shouldn't be, but this is thailand, the land of the free

[Shrillland]

it's thailand

no matter who the thai vote, the military always wins, especially with bhumibol's wastrel son reigning in calls for reform

should the thai at least be grateful that their military doesn't usually put them to the sword as the neighboring state of tatmadaw is now doing and has done to its ungrateful peasantry from the safety of the unassailable fake royal capital of literally an empty void save for the power vested within naypyidaw? should they count their blessings that the prayut chan-ochas will allow them the luxury of democracy?

of course they shouldn't be, but this is thailand, the land of the free

Phue Thai vows to amend constitution to reduce military control

[Senkaku]

Phue Thai vows to amend constitution to reduce military control

Might as well say “Shinawatras vow to once again get themselves couped,” I can’t really see the Soldier With A Democratic Heart or the royalist establishment just meekly stepping aside for them, though it’s remarkable to see what a firm grip this one family has maintained over a large political movement despite their repeated setbacks. I guess if Paethongtarn wants to see her dad and aunt more often, getting herself also forced into exile is one way of approaching it, but maybe I’m just being a cynic and the third time really will be the charm for them!

[The Aituia]

For the sake of safety I will not say anything against Thailand's Royal Family knowing that my nation is near Thailand.

[Shrillland]

Pheu Thai to give ฿10,000 to all citizens over age 16 as an economic stimulus if they win...in digital tokens sent to digital wallets delivered via blockchain

[El Lazaro]

Pheu Thai to give ฿10,000 to all citizens over age 16 as an economic stimulus if they win...in digital tokens sent to digital wallets delivered via blockchain

:facepalm:

I mean, there’s two possibilities from what I understand: they have a vague desire for people to embrace the digital economy something something or this is a creative way to cut costs by making the money less accessible, less usable, and less vulnerable to corruption.

Nayib Bukele tried the former by paying real cash (iirc) for downloading a crypto app, and like nobody used crypto in El Salvador even before the crash. Most vendors don’t accept it, and few consumers are interested in buying it.

[Diuhon]

For the sake of safety I will not say anything against Thailand's Royal Family knowing that my nation is near Thailand.

the thai military doesn't do invasions these days, so you can shit on the chakri dynasts all you like

[Diuhon]

Pheu Thai to give ฿10,000 to all citizens over age 16 as an economic stimulus if they win...in digital tokens sent to digital wallets delivered via blockchain

and if you didn't believe they're snake-oil salespeddlers, well

[Shrillland]

We now have most of the nominees for PM

Besides Paethongtarn, PTP's also selected real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin and former Justice Minister Chaikasem Nitisiri...this could be problematic as Srettha's company, Sansiri plc, is infamous for corruption and shoddy construction. It just keeps looking worse for Peathongtarn, doesn't it?

United Thai Nation has selected Prayuth and Prayuth's Secretary(and former Justice Minister) Peeraphan Salirathaviphak.

Move Forward, PPP, Democrats, BJT, and TLP just have their stated candidates standing.

[Shrillland]

Domestic Thai media isn't especially reliable, but Thai Rath is showing all the candidates, such as Paethongtarn here, on their rounds