A former national police chief is calling on senators to vote for Move Forward leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, as Thailand’s new PM. Sereepisuth Temeeyaves is also leader of the Seree Ruam Thai Party, one of 7 parties to have entered into a coalition with Move Forward.
He has dismissed suggestions that the new government would seek to amend Section 112 of the Criminal Code, more commonly known as the lèse-majesté law, which prohibits any criticism of the monarchy.
According to a Nation Thailand report, Sereepisuth posted a video clip on his Facebook page in which he confirmed that there was no mention of amending Section 112 in the Memorandum of Understanding recently signed by all coalition members.
“Senators should not be worried. I would like to confirm with them that I won’t allow (Article 112) to be changed.”
According to Sereepisuth, the oath he took as a police officer, in which he pledged to protect the monarchy, means he would oppose any attempt to amend Thailand’s lèse-majesté law.
He is calling on senators not to use preservation of Section 112 as an excuse to not vote for Pita, assuring them that all parties in the coalition are against any change being made to the law.
“We are all opposed to amending the law, so it cannot be changed.”
Pita’s Move Forward Party won Thailand’s general election on May 14, with 151 MPs. Between them, the coalition parties have 312 MPs, but as 250 senators appointed by the previous administration will be voting for the next PM, the coalition needs 376 votes if Pita is to be elected. It therefore needs another 64 votes from MPs and/or senators.
Pita’s election is not a sure thing, as a number of senators have been warning their peers that the Move Forward Party plan to amend the lèse-majesté law and that in order to prevent this, they should not elect Pita as PM.
SOURCE: Nation Thailand
