In Parliamentary elections in MayThai voters sent a clear message to the country’s conservative military establishment, which seized power from an elected government in 2014. The reformist Move Forward and pro-democracy Phu Thai parties emerged as the largest parties, while all pro-establishment parties fared poorly. Still, the Thai military is after the 42-year-old, who orchestrated the victory of the opposition Pita Limajaroenrat, During the campaign, he promised to end the “cycle of coups”, repeal the military-drafted constitution, and amend the controversial lèse-majesté law, which criminalises any public criticism of the monarchy. His reformist views helped him connect with the masses and lead his party to victory, but also made him a target of the military. After the elections, eight opposition parties, including Move Forward and Phu Thai, came together and formed a bloc that had a majority in the 500-member elected house. The bloc nominated Mr. Pita as its prime ministerial candidate. But in Thailand’s 750-member bicameral parliament (500 elected MPs and 250 senators appointed by the military), a candidate needs the support of 376 MPs to form a government. Mr. Pita’s first attempt got him only 13 votes from the Senate. Thailand’s constitutional court also suspended him to Parliament in a case alleging he violated electoral laws by not disclosing his shares in a media company.
This is not the first time the establishment is going after popular parties. In 2019, the reformist Future Forward Party, which emerged as the third largest bloc, was dissolved and its leaders banned from politics. The general has failed to understand that the crackdown on pro-democracy parties has not helped in changing the public mood. Move Forward emerged from this void and within four years became the largest party in parliament. Thailand has also seen large-scale pro-democracy protests; Although crushed by the junta, the embers of public indignation are still burning. The May election results were an opportunity for the junta to hand over power to a legitimate government. But by barring the winner from forming a government and suspending him from parliament, the generals have made it clear they will not tolerate any calls for reform. It is a dangerous move that takes Thailand one step closer to the Myanmar model, where a military coup in 2021 led to the arrest of democratically elected leaders and a civil war. The Thai opposition must remain united in the face of the military’s pressure tactics and continue to press the Senate to support the candidate who has the support of the most elected lawmakers.