Showing 1 - 8 of 8
Parties jostle to extend the life of NCPO
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 11/04/2018
» Three groups of political players are on the move in setting up parties to extend the life of the National Council for Peace and Order (NPCO) and support Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha to continue as prime minister after the election. All three are working separately, but in essence are moving towards building leverage in the political numbers game.
Laying siege to the City of Angels
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 18/04/2018
» The appointment of Sakoltee Phattiyakul as deputy governor of Bangkok by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha through the use of Section 44 has been seen as a move by the regime to take control of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and pave a path towards securing votes in the capital for the election in the near future.
The rich history of 'siphoning' in our politics
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 02/05/2018
» Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha is accused of "siphoning" ex-members of parliament from various political parties into a party of his own that is currently setting up, rumoured to be the Palang Pracharat Party.
'Talk show' debate sets tone for election
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 28/03/2018
» The first open debate between representatives of political parties since the 2014 coup took place last week at a forum in Bangkok. It pitted veteran politicians against young bloods entering politics for the first time. Even though the event was more like a talk show and somewhat superficial, it did set the tone for the kind of politics we could expect leading to a general election next year.
Major parties in battle to repel NCPO attack
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 04/04/2018
» At the end of March, 97 political groups applied to be registered as political parties. Come April, public attention has turned to existing political parties whose party members are required to reconfirm their membership status. These are some of the steps the military regime under the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has taken to manipulate our politics ahead of the election next year.
Politicians' motives reflect their constituents
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 06/06/2017
» Three contesting parties for political power are at a junction leading to the general election and a return to democracy next year.
Governor's errors play into NCPO's hands
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 30/08/2016
» Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra is the latest to fall under the sword of Section 44. Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, as head of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), issued an order suspending him from work without pay. The suspension is supposed to be temporary until further notice.
Open debate on the draft charter is critical
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 27/07/2016
» As the nation rounds the last corner towards the Aug 7 constitutional referendum, the outcome remains uncertain and the aftermath worrisome.