Serious setback for Thai govt: Fresh elections are likely

Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury | Published: March 23, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra of Thailand has suffered a serious setback as country's constitutional court has declared the February 02 general election "invalid". As a fallout from this development, fresh polls are likely in the country that has been witnessing political unrest for some time past. Although when the polls would be held remains unclear amid the possibilities about Ms. Yingluck exploring all possibilities about how to cling herself to power, the ruling of the court has come as a severe blow to the government. The latter was otherwise thought earlier to have largely weathered the political crisis. The constitutional court observed that the February 02 balloting could not be held on a single day as required under the provisions of the constitution. This has been a major shortcoming of the voting.
Besides, different organisations and the individuals have been clamouring for fresh polls since they believe that the last elections were not representative as the major opposition parties boycotted the same. A different group of protestors demanded resignation of the government and called for staying away from the balloting. The elections took place on February 02 in most of the constituencies. Those areas where elections could not be held because of the electoral boycott by the opposition, were covered later. The latest development in Thai political arena indicates that the nation is going for fresh elections unless the situation is unexpectedly reversed.
The south east Asian nation appeared earlier to have overcome the political unrest to a great extent as the tensions largely receded in the recent days. The emergency that was earlier imposed, has also been withdrawn. However, concerns about holding of credible polls did not disappear. Opponents of the government kept up the pressure for inclusive voting.
As the number of the anti-government protestors recently thinned out, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra appeared relatively comfortable. But, it is the legitimacy of her government that haunts her authority, remains a major headache for the administration.
The elections in Thailand were over, but most people believed that the political problems were not resolved. The voting on February 02 went off rather peacefully, barring in some areas. This came as a shot in the arms of the Yingluck Shinawatra's government. It was not possible to hold polls in all the parliamentary seats and balloting was held later in the rest of those constituencies. Nevertheless, the balloting remains a big question.
But the heat and sound of a normal democratic election lacked in both the phases. This is evidently a thorn for the Thai prime minister. Protestors clamoured for the postponement of the voting on both the occasions, saying they want drastic reforms in the system of rule, and asked for the formation of a "Peoples Council" that would govern the country. The demonstrators, who created a big headache for the government, feel that Thailand needs to get rid of "unjust and corrupt" politicians. However, their leader Suthep Thaugsuban now says that the "illegitimate" government would meet its natural death. Main opposition Democratic party has boycotted the elections, which the prime minister called much ahead of the expiry of her usual electoral tenure.
As the political crisis in the Thailand abated to some extent, speculations were rife in capital Bangkok and elsewhere in the country that some kind of reconciliation was needed for political stability. The tourists are once again crowding the country, but a lurking fear of political trouble chases them, despite a semblance of normality.
Yingluck Shinawatra made history by becoming the first women prime minister of Thailand following a resounding victory by her political party in the elections that were followed by the recent debatable polls. A relatively stranger in politics, she owes the success largely on the coattail of her elder brother and former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, who lives abroad. Thaksin was quite popular in the parts of the rural areas in Thailand and also with segments of the middle class. But the billionaire businessman-turned-into-politician was ousted by a military coup in 2007 and was also sentenced to prison terms on allegation of corruption. He has been living abroad for last few years. He did not return to Thailand even after his political party, led by her sister, won the polls and formed the government.
Clearly, he did not want to embarrass the government although impression gained in the country that it was he who was calling the shots on important issues. A few months ago, the government sought to pardon him, facilitating his comeback to the country, but those attempts failed. But this has also infuriated a large number of people, who thronged the streets in capital Bangkok, demanding that the government must go. Initially, the protestors were small in numbers but they grew in strength later and the authorities grappled to contain with the snowballing condition.
Yingluck announced early elections, but this has not fully solved the problems. Now, the ruling of the constitutional court has added a new element in the Thai political scene.
Â (Email: zaglulbss@yahoo.com)