Could a change in the constitution provide more democracy for Thai population?
-Column by Michael Valbjorn, September 2024
Photo by Mathew Schwartz
Thailand has in later years been rocked by political turmoil.1 The latest developments saw one of the most popular politicians in all of Thailand, Pita Limjaroenrat sidelined from politics for the next ten years, and his political party banned from Thai politics. Limjaroenrat was the political leader of the leading oposition party Move forward. The Party was not able to secure endorsement from the senate After winning the popular vote, because members of the Senate, at that time a conservative military-appointed body, refused to endorse Limjaroenrat for prime minister. A new Prime Minister was later appointed, and this none other than a former PM’s Daughter.
The political party known as move forward, was banned by the Thai constitutional court, after it found that suggestions to change key Thai laws, could be seen as an attempt to overthrow the constitutional monarchy. It is important to understand that the monarchy in thailand has been under substantial pressure in later years, and has even been the subject of major demonstrations in 2020, where protesters demanded reform of the monarchy and an end to military rule.
Thailand 2020: Photo by Clint Oka
in april of 2024 then came the first of good democratic news for the Thai population, when the Thai cabinet approved a new selection of 200 senators, whom will not be selected by the military, and will not have the power to reject a PM candidate. The 200 new senators will be appointed through a complex process involving proffessionals from several sectors.2
The constitution however remains a critical point of criticism in the debate about democracy in Thailand, as the constitution among other things gives the Head of state, in this case the King, full control over the Thai armed forces, and has conditions to the rights to freely express opinions and criticism.
Several experts, including those of leading human rights NGO’s, point to changes in the constitution as nessesary, for the democracy of Thailand to move forward. It is nessesary for the people to be represented by a parliament, completely free of intervention from both the Thai armed forces and the Thai monarch, only then will the Thai population truly experience democracy.
Note: This column holds expressions of my opinion which cannot be viewed as undisputed facts, i have however secured several sources, for the claims made in this column.