Today, August 31, Bangkok’s Victory Monument is set to be the stage for another round of political drama as the United Power of the Land to Protect Sovereignty and its supporters gather to protest the Pheu Thai Party’s push to form a new government. The demonstration comes hot on the heels of a dramatic Constitutional Court decision on August 29 that removed Paetongtarn Shinawatra from consideration for prime minister after a leaked phone recording with Cambodian leader Hun Sen surfaced.
But don’t call it victory just yet, warned one of the movement’s best-known figures. Jatuporn Prompan — former red-shirt leader turned vocal critic — said Paetongtarn’s disqualification is merely a change of faces, not a defeat of the political faction she represents. In other words: swap the headline, not the headlines’ theme. Jatuporn’s point is blunt and simple — if Pheu Thai continues to push a successor from the same camp, the same fault lines of power will remain intact.
Adding to the noise, Pichit Chaimongkol, another prominent organiser, reiterated that the group’s opposition will continue as long as Pheu Thai seeks to form a government. He invited the public to assemble at Victory Monument from noon, urging citizens who share the movement’s six demands to join. Organisers say these demands are meant to be “people’s power” measures designed to stop a new administration from repeating past mistakes and causing long-term harm — and they insist the demands are not aimed at boosting any single political party.
At the same time, parliamentary chess continues behind closed doors. The Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai parties have been courting coalition partners, with both actively engaging the People’s Party — the largest single bloc in parliament. On August 30, the People’s Party declared it has not committed to any side, keeping its options open and signalling it will negotiate only if certain conditions are met. Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, the party’s leader, said the People’s Party will remain in opposition even if it backs a candidate for prime minister, and that its lawmakers will meet on September 1 to map out their next move.
Meanwhile, Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of Bhumjaithai, claimed late on August 29 that he had secured the support of a majority of MPs — a claim Pheu Thai disputes. Whether that majority actually exists may depend less on public posturing and more on the private bargains and horse-trading of Thai coalition politics.
This protest comes just days before the House of Representatives is scheduled to convene between September 3 and 5 to vote on a new prime minister, a calendar that sharpens the stakes and raises the volume on every demonstration and negotiation. Between now and then, expect more protests, more phone calls, and more headlines as parties scramble to secure votes and sway public opinion.
For Bangkok residents and visitors, Victory Monument has become more than a transit hub: it’s a political pulse point where banners, megaphones and determined citizens converge. Whether today’s crowd will tip the balance of public sentiment or simply punctuate an already-volatile week remains to be seen, but organisers are clearly counting on visibility — and momentum — to influence lawmakers in the short window before the House meets.
Behind the rallying cries are familiar themes: distrust of concentrated power, fears of repeating past governance errors, and a desire for a political reset that proponents claim would protect national sovereignty. Opponents, on their part, will argue that elections and parliamentary procedures should determine leadership and that the rule of law must guide any transition.
Whatever your political view, this week is a milestone for Thai politics. The Court’s ruling that removed Paetongtarn has reshuffled the deck, but as the movement’s leaders stress, reshuffling a deck doesn’t rewrite the game’s rules. With the People’s Party keeping its options open, Bhumjaithai claiming majority support, and Pheu Thai pressing ahead, Bangkok may be on track for a politically charged September — one that will be decided both in parliament and on the city’s streets.
Keep an eye on Victory Monument today: noon may well be the moment when slogans meet strategy, and when the next chapter in Thailand’s political story gets written — loud, public, and unmissable.
Reported developments referenced from local coverage, including the Bangkok Post. House of Representatives meeting scheduled for September 3–5 to select a new prime minister.
Be First to Comment