The future of PM Prayut Chan-o-cha and that of the ruling Palang Pracharath Party is in question because of the return of the 2-ballot voting system. The Bangkok Post stories that Parliament has accredited a charter modification invoice that proposed a return to the system. According to the report, the voting system might show an advantage to the Pheu Thai opposition party within the next election.
The move comes following the elimination of Deputy Agriculture Minister Thamanat Prompow and Deputy Labour Minister Narumon Pinyosinwat from their posts last week, each of whom are close with Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwon, who can be leader of the ruling PPRP. Thamanat has been accused of orchestrating a marketing campaign to remove the PM and according to the Bangkok Post report, his time with the PPRP could be about to finish.
Speaking to the Post, Stithorn Thananithichote, from King Prajadhipok’s Institute, says Thamanat and Prawit might have proposed a return to the 2-ballot system as a way of hindering parties like Move Forward, which is proving well-liked with youthful voters.
“While they might not cease main events like Pheu Thai, they’ll thwart the MFP, whose predecessor – the Future Forward Party – benefited from the single-ballot system in the earlier election.”
Sithorn adds that assist from 250 senators could still afford the PM another term. The senators have been appointed by the now-defunct National Council for Peace and Order, which the PM headed up, and Sithorn believes that if he can heal the rifts throughout the PPRP, he could safe sufficient help for one more time period.
Trade secret believes Pheu Thai may lose a considerable number of votes to the MFP on the subsequent election, with Pheu Thai MP Sutin Klungsang agreeing a landslide victory as happened beforehand is not guaranteed.
Meanwhile, the deputy leader of the Democrat Party, Nipit Intharasombat, has informed the Bangkok Post that the PM will stay in power till the law on elections is ratified, but after that is more likely to name an election.
“I don’t suppose the PM will want to serve another term provided that he’ll face fierce resistance.”