BANGKOK (AP) – Thailand’s Prime Minister survived a vote of no confidence in parliament on Saturday amid allegations that his government has mismanaged the economy, messed up the provision of COVID-19 vaccines, violated human rights and promoted corruption . Nine other ministers also survived the vote.
It was the second test of suspicion that Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha’s government has faced since taking office in July 2019, following a controversial election after Prayuth seized power in a 2014 coup as military chief. In February last year, he and five cabinet ministers easily beat a motion of no confidence in the lower house.
The latest motion also criticized Prayuth’s government for misusing its power to promote police officials and for setting up a cyber unit to attack, among other things, government criticism on social media.
But a more serious claim was that Prayuth deepened the 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 to resign since last year. They want the constitution to be amended to make it more democratic, and the monarchy reformed to make it more accountable.
“Prayuth’s biggest mistake is not understanding 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 a bad act, which makes him no longer qualified to be prime minister, ”he said.
His accusation refers to the enforcement of Section 112 of the Penal Code, also known as the Law of Lese Majesty. Prayuth said in June last year that King Maha Vajiralongkorn had expressed a wish that the government would not use the law against defaming the monarchy to prosecute pro-democracy protesters.
Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, a popular politician forced out of parliament last year, was charged with lese majesty last month for alleging that the government’s procurement of COVID-19 vaccines was late and insufficient and that there may have been favoritism in the award of the main contract.
The criticism has centered on the monarchy, as most of the vaccines ordered by Thailand are produced by Siam Bioscience, a privately held Thai company owned by the king.
The monarchy is widely regarded as an untouchable foundation of Thai nationalism.
The lese majesty law allows anyone to file a complaint with the police, with sentences of up to 15 years in prison per offense. At least 59 people, including some minors, were summoned between November and February, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.
Four well-known protesters – including human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa, student leader Parit Chiwarak and political activists Somyos Prueksakasemsuk and Patiwat Saraiyaem – were prosecuted earlier this month under the law and on charges of sedition. Their lawyer asked for bail, but the court turned it down.
Prayuth said the debate in parliament “was a good opportunity for both sides to work together for our country and our people. And I am willing to clear up any allegation. ”
Of the 487 lawmakers, 277 are part of the ruling coalition and 210 of the opposition. The motion of censure would have required a simple majority or 244 votes to pass. Prayuth received 272 votes, 206 votes of no confidence and three remained silent.
On Saturday evening, about 1,000 protesters organized a rally outside the gate of the parliament building, where speakers took turns denouncing the voting results and saying they were organizing their own version of the censorship debate. Some in attendance held signs criticizing the government and the monarchy.
“We knew what the outcome of the vote would be, but we are not angry, because at least the opposition parties have had a chance to expose the government’s misdeeds so that the whole country would know the truth,” said Jaruwan Bungasaree, a 68-year-old protester.
“They spoke out against corruption and did it well,” she added.
Police said earlier that they would deploy more than 10,000 agents in Bangkok this weekend to control crowds and maintain order. Police vehicles, including water cannon wagons, were sent to the parliament building.
Associated Press writer Bill Bredesen contributed to this report.