BANGKOK (AP) – The Thai Prime Minister survived a vote of no confidence in parliament on Saturday amid allegations that his government mismanaged the economy, defrauded COVID-19 vaccines, promoted human rights abuses and corruption. Nine other ministers also survived the vote.
It was the second test of no confidence that the government, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, has faced since taking office in July 2019, following a contested election after Prayuth took power in a 2014 coup as army chief. In February last year, he and five Cabinet ministers easily defeated a vote of no confidence in the lower house.
In the latest motion, Prayuth’s government is also criticized for abusing its power to promote police officers and for setting up a cyber unit to attack government critics on social media.
But a more serious allegation was that Prayuth deepened divisions in society by using the monarchy as a shield against criticism of his government.
A student-led protest movement has been campaigning for Prayuth and his government since last year. They want the constitution to be amended to make it more democratic, and the monarchy to be reformed to make it more accountable.
“Prayuth’s biggest mistake is that he does not understand the principles of the constitutional monarchy,” said Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of the Opposition Move Forward Party.
“He used the monarchy to protect himself when he was criticized or opposed. “This is bad behavior, which means that he is no longer qualified as prime minister,” he said.
His accusation refers to the application of section 112 of the Penal Code, also known as the law majesty. Prayuth said in June last year that King Maha Vajiralongkorn had expressed his wish that the government should not use the law to defame the monarchy to prosecute pro-democracy protesters.
Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, a popular politician who was forced out of parliament last year, was charged with majesty last month for claiming that the government’s acquisition of COVID-19 vaccines was late and inadequate, and that there was potential favoritism. in the award of the main contract.
The criticism is related to the monarchy because most of the vaccines ordered by Thailand have to be manufactured by Siam Bioscience, a private Thai company owned by the king.
The monarchy is widely regarded as an inviolable rock of Thai nationalism.
Under the Majesty Act, anyone can lodge a complaint with the police, with convictions up to 15 years in prison per offense. According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, at least 59 people, including several minors, were summoned under the law between November and February.
Four well-known protesters – including human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa, student leader Parit Chiwarak, and political activists Somyos Prueksakasemsuk and Patiwat Saraiyaem – were prosecuted under the law earlier this month and charged with sedition. Their lawyer requested bail, but the court denied it.
Prayuth said the debate in parliament was a good opportunity for both parties to do something together for our country and its people. And I am ready to clear up any allegation. ”
Of the 487 legislators, 277 are part of the ruling coalition and 210 are with the opposition. The motion of censure would have required a simple majority, or 244 votes. Prayuth received 272 votes, with 206 no confidence and three remained silent.
On Saturday night, about 1,000 protesters staged a rally outside the gate of the parliament building, where speakers took turns denouncing the outcome of the vote, saying they were presenting their own version of the no-confidence debate. Some participants held signs criticizing the government and the monarchy.
“We knew what the outcome of the vote would be, but we are not upset because at least the opposition parties had a chance to expose the government’s wrongdoing so that the whole country would know the truth,” he said. Jaruwan Bungasaree, a 68-year-old, said. -old protester.
“They spoke out against corruption and did a good job,” she added.
Police earlier said they would deploy more than 10,000 officers in Bangkok over the weekend to control the crowds and maintain law and order. Police vehicles, including trucks with water cannons, were sent near the parliament building.
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Associated Press author Bill Bredesen contributed to this report.