This morning the count is Peua Thai Party 264, Democrat Party 160, and BJT far out in the cold with only 35 seats. Andrew Walker made the comment that Peua Thai didn’t receive over 50% of the popular vote, but I really wonder if you count the spoiled ballots (1.7 million) and check how many put an X over the party name rather than in the correct box, this might account for the difference between the election poll results and the exit poll data.
Also, I am suspicious about the results in Bangkok that showed the Democrats getting 22 seats when the polls only projected them to get 7. That said, I know from personal contacts that Peua Thai had a lock on Nakhon Pathom because few wanted to vote against the dictates of the local mafia leader, so I suppose the heavy handedness all balances out in Thailand’s version of Chicago-style politics.
Given New Mandala‘s long-term interest in sufficience economy, this is an interesting observation from the Wall Street Journal:
It’s notable that during the campaign the Democrats dropped references to a “sufficiency economy.” In the 1970s, King Bhumibol Adulyadej coined the term to discourage indebtedness caused by overinvestment and overconsumption in rural areas. Since then it has grown into a nationalist and sometimes autarkic philosophy. Following the 2006 coup, the military junta revived the idea and the Democrats continued to pay lip service to it after Prime Minister Abhisit took office in late 2008.
Most Thais realize that such romanticism is a relic of the past. Mr. Thaksin encouraged rural residents to start local industries and produce tradable goods. Rural incomes expanded, and many farmers have traveled abroad and understand that greater opportunities await if the government removes obstacles to growth.
I wonder when we will start hearing the first cryptic threats from the powers that be.
We all know the tell-tale signs: something along the lines of a commitment to democracy qualified with a reminder that, regrettably, the need arises from time to time for intervention (coups) in the interests of the greater good.
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Congratulations !
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Now tell me if this doesn,t look like Thailands version of Bonnie and Clyde? For this beautiful country,i hope not.
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This morning the count is Peua Thai Party 264, Democrat Party 160, and BJT far out in the cold with only 35 seats. Andrew Walker made the comment that Peua Thai didn’t receive over 50% of the popular vote, but I really wonder if you count the spoiled ballots (1.7 million) and check how many put an X over the party name rather than in the correct box, this might account for the difference between the election poll results and the exit poll data.
Also, I am suspicious about the results in Bangkok that showed the Democrats getting 22 seats when the polls only projected them to get 7. That said, I know from personal contacts that Peua Thai had a lock on Nakhon Pathom because few wanted to vote against the dictates of the local mafia leader, so I suppose the heavy handedness all balances out in Thailand’s version of Chicago-style politics.
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Given New Mandala‘s long-term interest in sufficience economy, this is an interesting observation from the Wall Street Journal:
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I wonder when we will start hearing the first cryptic threats from the powers that be.
We all know the tell-tale signs: something along the lines of a commitment to democracy qualified with a reminder that, regrettably, the need arises from time to time for intervention (coups) in the interests of the greater good.
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Your headline “New Mandala’s Wrap-Up” caused me some initial distress. “Thai Election Wrap-Up” might have been better.
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Regarding the above comment, I was referring to the pullout box; not the article.
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