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https://theconversation.com/thailands-democracy-has-taken-another-hit-but-the-countrys-progressive-forces-wont-be-stopped-236949>
"After two tumultuous weeks in Thai politics, the country has a new prime
minister and new opposition party in parliament. The sweeping changes have
demonstrated yet again the power of the Constitutional Court over Thailand’s
fragile democratic institutions.
The political intrigue began on August 7 when the court dissolved the
progressive Move Forward Party, the main opposition party in parliament
following its surprising showing in the 2023 national elections.
Two days later, the party reconstituted itself as the People’s Party and
announced it would continue to lead the opposition.
Then, on August 14, the Constitutional Court disqualified Prime Minister
Srettha Thavisin of the Pheu Thai party from holding the post, and removed him
from office.
And two days after that decision, the parliament duly elected Pheu Thai leader
Paetongtarn Shinawatra as his replacement. She is the third member of her
family to serve as prime minister after her father, Thaksin Shinawatra
(2001–06), and aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra (2011–14).
Unfortunately, these kinds of incidents have become normalised in Thailand.
They demonstrate the extent to which conservative forces in the country
continue to use various tools of “lawfare”, including the Constitutional Court,
to target opposition politicians and parties and stifle the will of the people.
Despite these setbacks to Thailand’s democracy, the country is changing fast.
It is becoming more progressive and less submissive to military and monarchy
authority.
So, these latest manoeuvres by the country’s gerontocracy may not be a show of
strength after all. Rather, as one Thai politics expert put it, these moves may
be the “last gasp” of the conservative old guard that has long dominated Thai
politics and society."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
