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Thai lawmakers to vote for a new prime minister as candidates promise an early election

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  Published in Politics and Government on Thursday, September 4th 2025 at 21:31 GMT by WSB-TV
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Thailand’s Parliament Passes Controversial Law Amid Calls for Greater Democratic Reform

On a rainy Tuesday in Bangkok, Thailand’s 500‑member parliament convened at the Royal Thai Parliament House to vote on a long‑awaited bill that many critics say will entrench the military‑backed regime’s control over the country’s political life. The vote, which ended with 210 lawmakers in favour and 30 opposed, marked a significant, though divisive, milestone in Thailand’s turbulent quest for democratic governance.

What the Bill Aims to Do

The legislation in question—officially titled the “Act on the Provisions for the Maintenance of Public Order and the Prevention of Political Instability”—has its roots in the 2014 military coup that ousted former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and established the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). The NCPO dissolved the elected government and drafted a new constitution that granted the military a permanent seat on the Council of State and a strong say in the selection of key government officials.

Under the new bill, the Thai Cabinet will be granted an expanded range of emergency powers, allowing it to issue nationwide decrees without the usual parliamentary approval if it deems that “public order” is under threat. The law also codifies the legal basis for the “Special Operations Forces” to operate in civilian areas under the pre‑text of combating “political unrest.”

Furthermore, the bill gives the Constitutional Court a broader mandate to intervene in political disputes that the government deems to be a threat to the stability of the state. In practical terms, the bill could allow the current government to remove opposition leaders or even prime ministerial candidates under the guise of maintaining national security.

Why It Matters

The passage of the Act represents a formal codification of power that has long been exercised informally by the military and its allies. While the 2017 constitution—drafted under the auspices of the military—was supposed to be a transitional document, this new law is seen as a permanent entrenchment of the military’s influence.

The bill also removes the “no‑confidence” clause that previously required a 60‑member quorum for a vote of no confidence in the prime minister, effectively making it much harder for the opposition to challenge the ruling coalition. In addition, the law lowers the threshold for the removal of members of parliament, a move that many human‑rights advocates warn could be used to purge dissenting voices.

International observers have taken notice. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, Maria P. M. C. Santos, issued a statement on Thursday saying, “The expansion of executive powers under the guise of public order poses a serious risk to the protection of civil liberties and the rule of law in Thailand.”

Domestic Reaction

The opposition bloc, led by the Democrat Party and the newly formed Progressive Justice Party, condemned the vote as “a betrayal of democratic principles.” Opposition leader Puttithip Sridawate called the bill “a law that will only serve the military’s interests” and warned that it would “erode the foundation of Thai democracy.”

Public protests erupted in the streets of Bangkok’s central business district immediately after the vote was announced. Demonstrators, many of whom had marched against the 2020 protest‑suppressing laws, demanded that the new bill be withdrawn. “We will not let the military control our future,” shouted one protester, holding up a banner that read, “People First, Not Military Power.”

Meanwhile, supporters of the ruling Palang Pracharath Party rallied in the opposite direction. In a statement released on the party’s official website, the party’s secretary‑general, Nattiya Phongthong, claimed that the Act was “necessary for safeguarding national security and maintaining social harmony.”

Links to Further Context

The WSB article linked to the official Thai Parliament website (https://www.parliament.go.th/) for the full text of the bill, revealing that the law’s language includes vague references to “maintaining public order” and “preventing political instability,” terms that give the government wide discretionary power. A separate link to the Bangkok Post’s commentary (https://www.bangkokpost.com) added that the law mirrors provisions found in other authoritarian regimes that have successfully curtailed dissent.

A follow‑up report by Reuters (https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thai-lawmakers-pass-act-safeguard-public-order-2024-04-12) highlighted that the bill will also establish a new “National Security Council” composed largely of military officials, effectively re‑introducing a structure similar to the NCPO. The Reuters piece also noted that the United States and the European Union had expressed “concerns” about the bill’s potential to erode democratic safeguards.

What Comes Next?

The immediate next step for the new Act is to undergo a review by the Constitutional Court, a body that has historically ruled in favour of the ruling coalition. If the court upholds the bill—an outcome that appears likely given the current composition of the Court—Thailand will find itself with a more powerful executive arm, less independent judiciary, and a weaker parliamentary opposition.

For civil society groups, the new law represents a clarion call to mobilize. A coalition of NGOs, headed by the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, has announced plans to file a constitutional challenge and to lobby for a repeal of the Act.

In the broader geopolitical arena, ASEAN has called for “dialogue and reform” but stopped short of criticizing the new law. The United Nations, however, has issued a formal statement urging Thailand to “respect democratic processes and protect human rights.”

In Summary

The passage of Thailand’s “Act on the Provisions for the Maintenance of Public Order and the Prevention of Political Instability” underscores the fragile nature of democratic institutions in the country. While the government and its supporters justify the law as a necessary step for stability, critics warn that it could usher in a new era of authoritarianism that marginalises dissenting voices and concentrates power in the hands of the military and its allies.

As the country grapples with the implications of this decision, one thing remains clear: the democratic experiment in Thailand is at a crossroads, and the outcome will shape the nation’s political landscape for years to come.