Two months ago, the coronavirus would have still been a “sexy” topic at the no-confidence debate. But the relevant numbers are going down, and economic suffering has been too related to the global pandemic and the war in Ukraine to be effective ammunition in Parliament. This leaves the cannabis “legalization.”
The opposition’s censure motion was written in a conventionally vague way. By that, any issue of the hour, even if it was virtually non-existent when the motion was drafted, can steal the limelight. Cannabis “legalization” fits the bill as there is no hotter topic to date.
Proclaimed “benefits” of cannabis “legalization” would take time, while alarming news reports, hearsay, and rumors have been numerous and continuous already. As importantly, the issue will allow the Pheu Thai-led opposition to softening up Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, the leader of the Bhumjaithai Party who has seemed to climb up the list of the biggest opposition party’s enemies lately.
The “Red-shirt” movement, the powerbase of Pheu Thai, packed the Ubon Ratchathani provincial airport recently to welcome Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who led key party members on a mission to wrestle back control of Si Sa Ket, following the defection of three MPs to Bhumjaithai. It was a political development worthy of the interest of Bhumjaithai in particular.
The issue is not that Paetongtarn’s father Thaksin Shinawatra had lured politicians of other parties to defect to him before, so calling the Bhumjaithai-bound defectors “traitors” reeks of hypocrisy. It’s about how “the plan” of Pheu Thai is no longer focused exclusively on Prayut Chan-o-cha.
The upcoming censure should see Anutin getting extra attention. Palang Pracharath has been tamed. The Democrats look like they will not recover any time soon. Prayut has been constantly bruised. Attacks, therefore, have to be concentrated on Bhumjaithai. After all, its leader was a strong prime ministerial candidate two years ago and could still be so again next time.
Source: Thai Public Broadcasting Service