By Thai Newsroom Reporters
FORMER PRIME MINISTER Abhisit Vejjajiva admitted today (Sept. 3) it would be very unlikely for him to become head of government again in the foreseeable future.
Abhisit said his chances of being named premier again with supportive votes from MPs and senators would be utterly slim, compared to others though, he said, he may have readied himself for the top post of government.
The former Democrat Party leader apparently referred to Bhumjaithai Party leader/Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and caretaker prime minister Prawit Wongsuwan who would be more likely to secure enough votes from the legislators to become head of government if Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s eight-year rule is finally judged by court to have ended since August 24.
Given supportive votes from Palang Pracharath and other coalition MPs and senators, Prawit would apparently have a better chance of being named premier than Anutin and Abhisit.
Abhisit was named Democrat Party’s candidate for head of government in the 2019 election which finally saw Prayut overwhelmingly voted to assume the top post of government by the Palang Pracharath-led coalition MPs and the senators all of whom had been earlier handpicked by the 2014 coup junta under leadership of the army chief-turned-premier.
Nevertheless, Abhisit has jumped onto the bandwagon of those who have been seeking an end to the senators’ power to vote alongside the MPs for head of government.
That calls for amendment to the constitution’s Section 272 which currently provides the power for the senators to vote alongside the MPs for or against candidates for head of government.
Given the fact that the senators are not elected legislators, they should no longer stand in the way of democratic rule under which candidates for prime minister may be only named and voted by the elected ones, according to the former premier.
CAPTION:
Former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. Top photo: Matichon, Front Page photo: INN News
Also read: Abhisit doubts Prayut could efficiently run the country at all
Abhisit backs calls to end senators’ role in picking post-election PM
Prayut no longer politically righteous to come back: Academics
Opposition bloc urges Prayut to step down and be promptly replaced
2 Replies to “Abhisit admits having very slim chance of becoming PM again”