Phumtham Wechayachai Calms Thai Political Storm: Debunking Charter Dissolution Fears

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In the ever-animated world of Thai politics, Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai recently tossed aside the idea that squabbles over a prospective charter referendum might lead to an oh-so-dramatic House dissolution as mere musings from a Pheu Thai MP’s internal echo chamber. Yes, indeed, Mr. Phumtham, with all the poise and flair you’d expect from someone who has mastered the art of political restraint, declared on Monday that such differences between the governing Pheu Thai Party and its dance partner, the Bhumjaithai Party, were not the kind to cause political heartburn.

This switched-on response came hot on the heels (or should we say, the legislative coattails?) of a statement from Pheu Thai list-MP Cherdchai Tantisirin, who forewarned that a House breakup could be on the horizon, lurking like an unwanted cliffhanger in a never-ending telenovela, should there be too much discord over the requisite majority size for this very charter referendum.

Ever the diplomat, Mr. Phumtham reaffirmed Dr. Cherdchai’s liberty to share his inner monologues with the world while making it crystal clear that one individual’s solitary voice does not a coalition splinter. He stressed that such ideological jostling would be sorted out in the grand halls of parliament, where similarities, like champagne corks at a New Year’s Eve party, have a habit of popping up.

The plot thickens as the only wielder of the much-admired dissolving-torch, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, remained steadfast and impeccably unyielding. She has yet to show even a hint of intent to send the House packing. At the heart of this political soap opera is a disagreement between the House and the Senate on the kind of majority needed – described as ‘the simple majority conundrum’. The House, playing it cool, claims a straightforward majority should suffice, while the Senate gets all formal, insisting on two bougie conditions: first, more than half the voters must participate in the referendum; and second, a majority of the partakers must give their thumbs up.

This riveting drama led to the birth of an MP-Senate joint committee – a veritable political Avengers assembly – tasked with ironing out whether the Senate’s posh double-majority condition should remain en vogue. Recently, in a twist worthy of an acclaimed drama series, the Senate clinched a victory for the double-majority rule. Their ace in the hole? Support from the Bhumjaithai Party, who have made clear their penchant for this two-layered approach like a political mille-feuille.

But wait! Enter stage left, People’s Party (PP) head honcho, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, who artfully sidestepped the ongoing kerfuffle. The PP, with all the gallantry of a regal underdog, is set to champion charter amendments and not one, but two charter referendums. Drawing from the mystical utterings of the 2021 Constitutional Court ruling, they argue that two rounds are the magic number for a charter makeover, leaving the whole three-round business to the narrative fantasies of others.

Nimbly keeping their electoral dance cards close to their chest, Mr. Natthaphong also declared the party’s readiness to pirouette into new elections, should a potential House dissolution beckon them into the spotlight. For now, the drama continues, while the audience waits with bated breath for the next act in this never-dull Thai political saga.