Bangkok’s Latest Blow to Democracy: A Bill Tapped Out
Short‑stop: Thailand’s two‑legislature joint session flipped a daring anti‑military bill down 473–206, with six members hanging their heads and skipping the vote.
What the bill wanted
- Strip the 250‑seat Senate that the 2014 junta, led by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan‑ocha, put in place.
- Rethink the Constitutional Court and other agencies that have been “hijacked” by the loyalist military elite.
- Rewrite the 2017 constitution to create real separation of powers rather than a one‑man government with a cabinet of buddies.
The pitch and the politics
Around 130,000 sign‑ups backed the draft, proving it’s not just some niche committee thing. Those on the pro‑change side felt the 2017 charter had turned the country into a “one‑party democracy” where the chair’s got “built‑in control” via the Senate and other supposedly “independent” bodies.
The crown’s crowd
The JP supporters and the student‑led protest movement—who just erupted last year—pointed out that any real democracy must be owned by the people, not the military brass or the royalists who sit behind the curtain.
Constitutional whispers
In the last decade, Thailand’s Parliament saw 21 proposals to tweak the constitution. Only a single amendment, a minor tweak to the voting system, finally sailed through.
Why the plebocrats matter
Opponents warned the current constitution is a “paper coat of arms” that lets the junta’s leadership keep flexing its muscle under the guise of law. “If we fix the coup aftermath but ignore the root causes, we’re still on a moving platform,” senior lawmaker Wanchai Sornsiri pointed out.
History in a souvenir shop
Since the closure of absolute monarchy in 1932, Thailand has gone through 20 constitutions and 13 coups. The give‑and‑take between monarchs, the army, and the people looks a lot like a never‑ending soap opera.
Bottom line: The bill that could have given ordinary citizens more voice was snatched away by a parliament dominated by former coup architects. Meanwhile, the protesters keep their boots on—ready to march, jab the status quo, and remind the army that a democracy isn’t just about regimes; it’s also about hearts.
