Thai PM candidate Pita Limjaroenrat aims to form 'a democratic government' with 8-party coalition - CNA

THAI ROYAL DEFAMATION LAW: A POLITICAL FAULTLINE

Mr Pita’s race for the premiership will be determined in a joint sitting of the parliament, and he needs support from at least 376 parliamentarians.

At present, it is clear that he will not receive the approval of at least 70 potential Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Bhumjaithai Party.

The political group issued a statement on Wednesday, maintaining it will not support a prime minister candidate whose party’s policies include the amendment or abolishment of the royal defamation law.

The law is Section 112 of the Thai Criminal Code. It stipulates that whoever defames, insults or threatens the king, the queen, the heir-apparent or the regent shall be punished with imprisonment of three to fifteen years.

“The Bhumjaithai Party does not support a prime minister who has a policy to amend or abolish Section 112 of the Criminal Code. The party’s standpoint is that it will not take part in the forming of the government with political parties which have a policy to amend or abolish Section 112 of the Criminal Code,” the statement said.

“This standpoint is a key principle of the Bhumjaithai Party. It cannot be changed or negotiated.”

A few prime ministerial candidates have backed the amendment of the royal defamation law, including Mr Pita, who once described it as “problematic”.

His party has proposed several changes to the law, such as reducing the penalty and assigning the Royal Household Bureau as the sole entity to press charges.

At present, lese-majeste is an offence related to national security and complaints can be made by anyone.

Meanwhile, secretary-general of the United Thai Nation Party Akanat Promphan admitted the electoral loss and acknowledged that the forming of the government under the leadership of the Move Forward Party is “a normal process”.

“The United Thai Nation Party did not come first, so that is not our duty or mission. I personally will not challenge or obstruct other parties’ mission,” he wrote on his Facebook page on Thursday.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiemh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vYXNpYS90aGFpbGFuZC1nZW5lcmFsLWVsZWN0aW9uLXBpdGEtbGltamFyb2VucmF0LW1vdmUtZm9yd2FyZC1wYXJ0eS1wcmltZS1taW5pc3Rlci0zNDk3MzU20gEA?oc=5

2023-05-18 05:39:00Z
2012611469