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Pheu Thai Party U-Turn Halts People’s Party Push for Constitutional Ethics Amendments: Parit Wacharasindhu Reacts

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People’s Party spokesman Parit Wacharasindhu (left) and deputy party leader Sirikanya Tansakun attend a parliamentary meeting in Bangkok on Sept 3. (Photo: Nutthawat Wichieanbut)

The People’s Party has decided to hit the brakes on its push to amend constitutional articles dealing with ethical standards for political officeholders, thanks to an unexpected U-turn by the Pheu Thai Party. According to party spokesman Parit Wacharasindhu, the main opposition party prefers to temporarily shelve this contentious topic to prevent it from becoming a sticking point that could cause other crucial proposals to lose support.

Parit emphasized that the party is vigorously advocating for six other constitutional revisions. These include a bill designed to thwart future military coups, one aimed at reforming the armed forces, and another to prevent collusion between the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and the government.

“The likelihood of these amendments being ratified before the next general election may be slim, but it’s vital for all political parties to recognize their importance and collaborate to bring them to fruition,” he stated.

Critics had earlier dismissed the efforts to amend articles related to ethics as serving the personal interests of the coalition-leading Pheu Thai Party and the People’s Party. However, Parit insisted that the real goal is to ensure that the Constitutional Court and other independent bodies can’t wield “ethics” as a weapon to unfairly target any political party.

In recent times, numerous “ethics” complaints have been lodged against Pheu Thai figures, including the prime minister, by petitioners eager to topple the party. Concurrently, the People’s Party faces its own battles; around 44 members of the Move Forward Party, the predecessor of the main opposition party, are under the microscope of anti-graft investigators for ethics complaints. These complaints cite their support for amendments to the lese-majeste law, a key factor cited by the charter court when it dissolved Move Forward.

According to Parit, the People’s Party remains steadfast in its belief that it’s essential to curtail the monopolistic power of courts and other organizations over the ethical accountability of officeholders.

Meanwhile, sources from Government House suggest that Pheu Thai is poised to abandon its plan to amend the organic laws governing political parties and the NACC. This decision follows evaluations by key party figures, who anticipate strong resistance from coalition partners to these bills.

Instead, Pheu Thai has reverted to its initial plan: revising the 2017 constitution. The party aims to secure the changes it desires by rewriting the sections, except chapters 1 and 2, which concern the monarchy. The source mentioned that the party is currently waiting for the Senate to pass a bill on a charter referendum before pushing to organize the first referendum on their proposed charter amendment plan.

46 Comments

  1. Lee Chang September 26, 2024

    This just proves that Pheu Thai is playing political games. No party really cares about ethical standards when power is on the line.

    • SophiaA September 26, 2024

      That’s a hot take, but I think they’re just being strategic. They need to maintain support to get anything passed.

      • Lee Chang September 26, 2024

        Strategic or not, it sets a bad precedent. It makes you wonder if any reforms will ever be accomplished.

      • CriticalThinker September 26, 2024

        Both of you have valid points. Politics is about compromise, but compromising ethics is dangerous.

  2. thailandwatchdog September 26, 2024

    This is typical of Pheu Thai. They say they want to make the country better, but then they chicken out when things get tough.

    • Nina P September 26, 2024

      Be fair, they have to work with other parties to get anything done. You can’t just bulldoze through constitutional amendments.

      • thailandwatchdog September 26, 2024

        True, but they need to show some backbone. Backing down now will hurt their credibility.

    • AnalyticAl September 26, 2024

      It’s more complicated than that. Legislative processes require compromise. Rushing through amendments might backfire.

  3. John Smith September 26, 2024

    Isn’t it suspicious that ethics always become a big deal only when political rivals are involved? It’s like a tool to clean out the competition.

    • SkepticalSam September 26, 2024

      Exactly! The so-called ethics violations are just convenient weapons. This is all political theatre.

      • John Smith September 26, 2024

        Glad someone else sees it. But how do we fix this? Reform seems impossible.

      • ConcernedCitizen September 26, 2024

        Transparency and public accountability mechanisms might help. But who will bell the cat?

  4. PolSciStudent September 26, 2024

    Amending the constitution is essential, but I think focusing on military coups and judicial reforms is more urgent than ethics right now.

    • Historian234 September 26, 2024

      I agree. Thailand has a history of coups. We need to address immediate threats first.

      • PolSciStudent September 26, 2024

        Precisely, ignoring coup prevention just leaves us vulnerable to future instability.

      • AcademicGaze September 26, 2024

        But without ethical standards, even anti-coup amendments can be subverted. Both are crucial.

  5. James September 26, 2024

    Why can’t Pheu Thai just be honest about their motives? It’s obvious they’re protecting their own.

    • ProudThai September 26, 2024

      They’re politicians; honesty isn’t part of the job description.

      • James September 26, 2024

        Unfortunately true, but it’s frustrating. People deserve better.

    • PoliticalRealist September 26, 2024

      Cynical but accurate. Until voters demand better, this cycle will continue.

  6. Krit September 26, 2024

    If Pheu Thai abandons these reforms, they could lose a lot of young voters who supported Move Forward.

    • Yong September 26, 2024

      Exactly, the youth are tired of conservative politics. Change is inevitable.

      • Krit September 26, 2024

        Then they need to rally young voters to keep the pressure on. Youth engagement can be a game-changer.

    • ElderWisdom September 26, 2024

      Youth are important, but they need to understand the intricacies of politics. Change takes time.

  7. Alex S September 26, 2024

    I get that compromises are needed, but this feels like surrender. Ethics are as important as any other reform.

  8. Lu September 26, 2024

    It’s funny how Pheu Thai backs down right when pressure is coming from all sides. Coincidence? I think not.

    • Watcher12 September 26, 2024

      Agreed, this ‘strategic delay’ smells fishy. What are they really afraid of?

      • Lu September 26, 2024

        Probably more ethics complaints. They don’t want more scrutiny right now.

  9. JustaKid September 26, 2024

    I don’t get why ethics are such a big deal. Shouldn’t lawmakers focus on improving people’s lives?

    • MatureM September 26, 2024

      Ethics are foundational. Without ethics, any policy to improve lives can be corrupted.

      • JustaKid September 26, 2024

        Oh, that makes sense. So it’s like rules for playing fair?

  10. Sara September 26, 2024

    Does anyone else feel like this is just another delay tactic? They don’t truly want reform.

    • Hopeful September 26, 2024

      I want to believe they do, but actions speak louder than words. This does feel like a stall.

      • Sara September 26, 2024

        Exactly my point! We need to hold them accountable.

      • Optimist September 26, 2024

        Maybe this setback will spark more public interest and pressure for genuine reform.

  11. Alan W September 26, 2024

    If Pheu Thai can’t handle opposition now, how will they govern effectively? Weak leadership is the worst.

  12. Eka September 26, 2024

    Ethical standards are critical! Without them, any leader can manipulate the system.

    • Anna September 26, 2024

      So true. Ethics ensure accountability. Pheu Thai needs to be more transparent about their actions.

      • Eka September 26, 2024

        Definitely. We need leaders we can trust. Compromise shouldn’t mean sacrificing core values.

  13. Liam D September 26, 2024

    Pheu Thai is trapped. They need allies to get anything done but lose credibility every time they compromise.

  14. FreeThinker September 26, 2024

    The People’s Party is doing the right thing focusing on other amendments. Ethics can be tackled once we stabilize the political landscape.

  15. Mai T September 26, 2024

    I’m tired of politics as usual. When will politicians start being straightforward with their constituents?

    • Danielle September 26, 2024

      Transparency is rare in politics. The public needs to demand it.

      • Mai T September 26, 2024

        Exactly. Public pressure is the only way to force change.

      • Realist September 26, 2024

        Easier said than done. Citizens are often too distracted or apathetic to pressure politicians effectively.

  16. Jon P September 26, 2024

    This is a setback, yes, but not the end. The fight for ethical reform isn’t over.

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