Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin descended gracefully from his office at the illustrious Thai Khu Fah building at Government House, ready to face the throng of reporters assembled in anticipation. With the Constitutional Court’s decree to dissolve the opposition Move Forward Party fresh on everyone’s minds, the Prime Minister’s words carried unprecedented weight. (Photo: Chanat Katanyu)
On this pivotal Wednesday, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin emphatically clarified that he had no knowledge of any cabinet ministers trying to entice MPs from the opposition Move Forward Party by dangling the hefty lure of 20-30 million baht. He stated with unwavering resolve that if such underhanded attempts were indeed afoot, it would be grossly inappropriate for any party to engage in such political skullduggery.
Addressing the media ahead of the pivotal Constitutional Court ruling that ultimately led to the party’s dissolution, Mr. Srettha asserted, “If the Move Forward Party holds fast to its assertion that a minister from my government has overstepped propriety, they must pursue legal avenues to address this wrongdoing.” In his eyes, the only acceptable course of action for Move Forward was clear – present verifiable evidence and take legal action against the perpetrator.
Earlier in the week, Jirat Thongsuwan, a steadfast MP for Chachoengsao belonging to the Move Forward Party, revealed a stark claim. According to Mr. Jirat, an assistant to a cabinet minister had, through a mutual friend in his constituency, approached him with an indecent proposal. The offer? A staggering 20-30 million baht to facilitate the minister’s ambition of forming a new political party, an offer Mr. Jirat flatly turned down.
Pita Limjaroenrat, the sagacious chief adviser of Move Forward, weighed in on the scandal. He disclosed that some party MPs had shown him incriminating chats on their phones. These messages, he said, shamelessly encouraged defection with promises of substantial financial rewards and prestigious positions. “They will never succumb to the temptation of money or positions,” Mr. Pita assured, “because it is the public’s trust in them that these MPs hold most sacred.”
Mr. Pita voiced his concerns about these unscrupulous political machinations to shed light on the unvarnished truth about Thai politics. He remained confident in the unwavering integrity of Move Forward MPs, who he believed held steadfast to a shared political ideology that would not crumble in the face of monetary or positional temptations. Each MP, he explained, had been meticulously vetted to ensure their alignment with the party’s ideology before being fielded in the previous year’s general elections.
Reflecting on history, Mr. Pita noted that when Move Forward’s predecessor, Future Forward, had faced dissolution in 2020, some of its MPs had defected to parties within the coalition led by the 2014 coup orchestrator, Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha. Yet, tellingly, these defectors met electoral defeat when they ran for re-election in their constituencies in 2023. It was a potent reminder of the electorate’s disdain for such political betrayal.
As the gears of political machinations churned, the Move Forward Party remained unbowed. On Wednesday, they expressed a unified confidence that no such defections would mar their ranks this time. With their eyes set on announcing their third incarnation on Friday, the party sought to reaffirm its ideological purity and dedication to Thailand’s future.
I think the Prime Minister is just trying to cover up the scandal. There’s no way he didn’t know about these bribery attempts.
Totally agree, Sarah! It’s impossible that he had no idea, he’s just trying to save face.
It’s also possible that he’s telling the truth. Politicians often operate independently from their boss when they’re trying to pull such stunts.
Maybe, but he should still take responsibility for what happens under his administration. Ignorance isn’t an excuse.
Let’s not jump to conclusions. He said Move Forward should provide evidence and pursue legal action. That’s fair, isn’t it?
But what if the evidence gets buried? Corruption is rampant, and sometimes the legal system isn’t exactly impartial.
Exactly why we should be skeptical. Justice isn’t always served on a silver platter, especially in politics.
I don’t understand why this is a big deal. Politicians switch parties all the time.
This is corruption at its finest. Bribery undermines democracy and should not be tolerated!
Sadly, it happens everywhere. The real issue is how we tackle it once it appears.
True, but we need stronger mechanisms to prevent and punish such behavior.
Agreed. It’s up to the public to hold these politicians accountable. We can’t rely entirely on the system.
I’m impressed by Move Forward’s dedication to their principles. It gives me hope for the future of politics in Thailand.
Principles are great until money and power get involved. Let’s see how long they hold up.
Cynicism won’t get us anywhere. If we don’t believe in good politicians, we’ll never have them.
Belief without scrutiny is naïve. We need to hold them accountable to standards, not just believe in their words.
I think Olivia makes a good point. Encouraging principled leadership can actually inspire better politics.
20-30 million baht is a crazy amount of money! No wonder MPs might be tempted. How can anyone resist that?
It’s not just about the money, it’s about integrity and serving the people who elected you. Some things can’t be bought.
I get that, but everyone has a price. It’s just nature.
That’s a pretty cynical view of humanity. How about we aim higher?
It’s hard to judge until you’re actually in that position. Pressure and money can sway even the best of us.
Is this really news? Politics is dirty everywhere. The only surprise is that people are surprised.
The Move Forward’s confidence in their MPs is commendable. We need more parties with strict ideological vetting.
Strict ideological vetting sounds like a recipe for echo chambers and conformity.
Carl, diversity of thought is important, but so is unity in core principles. Balance is key.
Echo chambers can be stifling, but we need some ideological consistency to maintain integrity.
I’m curious about the evidence Move Forward claims to have. If it’s solid, it could shake things up big time.
Agreed, but claims without evidence are just rumors. Let’s see if they can back it up.
Exactly. Transparency is key here. The more they show, the stronger their case.
What about the role of media in this? Are they reporting responsibly or just inflaming tensions?
Media’s role is to inform the public, but sensationalism sells. It’s a tough balance.
I wish they would focus more on facts and less on drama.
Whatever happens, I just hope this leads to positive changes in Thai politics. It’s time for real reform.
Sounds like another political drama with little real impact. Wake me up when something actually changes.
Maybe this time will be different. Every little push adds up.
Sometimes it takes a lot of noise before real change happens. Maybe this is just the beginning.
How likely is it that Move Forward will actually go through with the legal action?
If they have solid evidence, they might. It’s risky but could be worth it.
They said they would. Trust is on the line here.
Then let’s hope they follow through. This could be a turning point.