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I'd like help understanding Thailand's election crisis [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2023-07-13

There is an election going on on the opposite side of the world from me, way over in Thailand, and I’d appreciate some knowledgeable international scholars helping me understand this as the election moves forward and is likely to be decided today (Thursday, July 13th).

This election has some parallels to our own government system here in the US, even though it’s a monarchy with a king. Well, we have someone who has millions of followers who would love to declare him king, but in Thailand’s case, so far as I can make out, the king and his family are not corrupt nor are they abusive of power. Maybe they don’t have as much as the Donald would claim here in the US.

In Thailand, there are several parties in politics and they have a Prime Minister who is the leader of government. For the last several years, the military has had their man as the Prime Minister in Prayut Chan-o-Cha. That is, until he said he would not run for Prime Minister again two days ago.

From CNN — www.cnn.com/...

Prayut, 69, has ruled Thailand since 2014, when as army chief, he seized power in a coup and declared himself prime minister. In 2019, his party’s coalition won the most seats in parliament and he was elected leader with the backing of the senate. Thai opposition parties swept the board in May’s nationwide election as voters delivered a powerful rebuke of the military-backed establishment that has ruled since the coup, capping years of rising anger over how conservative cliques have governed the kingdom. The progressive Move Forward Party, which gained a huge following among young Thais for its reformist platform, won the most seats and the largest share of the popular vote. Pheu Thai, the main opposition party that has been a populist force in Thailand for 20 years, came second. Prayut was not expected to gain enough support in the lower house to win another term as premier, as his party only won 36 seats in the May election – though the final outcome still remains uncertain. Prayut will remain as prime minister until the new government is formed.

OK — so the military party (as you rightly assumed, Conservative), doesn’t get their guy to continue. Worse, the one set to replace him is head of the progressive Move Forward Party, Pita Limjaroenrat. Oh Noes! Who can save the conservatives? Just like here in the US, Enter the court.

From The Diplomat: thediplomat.com/… Prayut Has Retired, but His Undemocratic Legacy Will Live On

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