Headlines summary as of 7 June 2021

News

• It is the first public apology by the PM on vaccine rollout schemes. This morning when the PM presided over the mass vaccination ceremony at the Bang Sue Train Station, the PM said “the global situation is still uncertain, we need to administer according to the risk. If it makes people feel uncomfortable, I apologise then.”—Krungthep Turakij

Politics

• The main ruling Palang Pracharat Party is scheduled to hold its annual convention on 20 June at the North-eastern province of Khon Kaen. It is widely expected that Deputy Agriculture Minister Thammanat will ascend to the secretary-general seat of the main ruling party.—Than Settakij
• After the rumour on House Dissolution getting more prevalent, main figures from ruling Democrat Party came out to dismiss it.:
  • Democrat leader and Deputy PM Jurin said that as a coalition party, he has not received any signal of such dissolution after the budget bill has passed. The Democrat leader said Democrat ministers will continue to work regardless. He mentioned for several times in his interview that as of now, the relationship in the government remains the same, as for the future he said ‘it’s a thing for the future.’—Krungthep Turakij
  • House Speaker Chuan Leekpai said in relation to the rumour that he believed the House can maintain the situation and that there will be no need to dissolve the Parliament.—Khao Sod
• The House is going to deliberate on the 500 billion THB loan decree this Wednesday.
  • Democrat is going to hold a meeting with its MPs tomorrow before the House deliberation.–Matichon
  • Opposition Pheu Thai and Move Forward Party announed that they will not vote for the decree.–Matichon
• Opposition Pheu Thai Party politicians in eastern Bangkok, including Treerat Sirichantaropas, submitted their resignation letters from the main Opposition Party on Friday.—Krungthep Turakij
  • For background: Treerat is seen to belong to a group led by former Pheu Thai Chief Strategist Sudarat who left the party and setting up her own political party ‘Sarng Thai’.
• Nida Poll released its third survey on Bangkokian’s ideal governor. The results showed a different pattern from that of the first and second survey. The gubernatorial race has been suspended since the coup in 2014 and expected to be hold later this year.

• On the one year anniversary of the disappearance of Thai dissents in Cambodia Wanchalerm, at least 12 foreign embassies, including with Australian, German and Swedish posts, coincidentally posted similar messages to voice their concerns over the enforced disappearance.—Krungthep Turakij, Spring News, Matichon Weekly, Prachatai, The Standard, WorkpointToday, Khao Sod, Matichon, The NATION

Analysis/opinion

• With high expectation that Thammanat will ascend to the PPRP secretary-general, media pondered on the issue:
  • Khao Sod regarded the venue of the convention as a sign of power Thammanat have over the current PPRP secretary-general whose constituency is in Central Thailand. Thammanat is reportedly close to Ekkarat Changlao, PPRP MP from Khon Kaen.—Khao Sod
  • Matichon regarded the convention to be the End Game by the so-called ‘Four Deputies’ Group to grab the secretary-general sat. One of the proofs is the assignment of Deputy Labour Minister Narumon, one of the Four Deputies group, as deputy head of budget bill deliberation committee. The situation on 20 June will be a political seesaw which saw the group under former Economic Tzar Somkid kicked out of politics. The internal restructuring in PPRP will mean the cabinet reshuffle.–Matichon
• William Pesek on Asian Nikkei Review wrote an opinion piece saying that the economic prospect of the Kingdom post-pandemic has been descended into darkness. The worst nightmare for the Kingdom economy came in the form of K-shaped recoveries where the upper middle class and wealthy see fortunes go up and most of society sees them fall. The commentator said that the economic management PM Prayut has been doing is that of the 1990s and it will not bring about a bright future in the post-pandemic era.—Asia Nikkei
• Inside Thailand said there must be at least three conditions before the PM to dissolve the Parliament. The realisation of herd immunity from mass vaccination, the signages of contracts from 2021 Budget and the rearrangement of civil servants are determinants of the timeline for House dissolution. Optimally, the PM might aim to dissolve the Parliament in May 2022.—Inside Thailand
• Nation Weekend outlined factors whether Bhumjaithai Party will remain in the coalition as followed.—Nation Weekend

Australia

• Ambassador’s interview with The NATION Thailand was published yesterday: https://fb.watch/5ZcJw7LoFM/