Anutin Charnvirakul Meets Gen Prawit Wongsuwon Amid Ongoing Crisis in Thailand

Strategic Insights -

Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul, a prime ministerial candidate, had lunch with Palang Pracharath Party leader Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, a former deputy prime minister, on Thursday. The meeting took place at Gen Prawit's Five Provinces Bordering Forest Preservation Foundation, where the 80-year-old soldier carries out most of his political business. The two leaders discussed the national situation and political issues, including the 2000 and 2001 Memorandums of Understanding on Thai-Cambodian border demarcation, which the Bhumjaithai Party recently urged to be canceled. The meeting highlights the growing tensions within the Thai government, as Anutin's party, Bhumjaithai, has quit the coalition government and called on Paetongtarn Shinawatra to take responsibility for the fallout from her phone call with Hun Sen.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Bhumjaithai Party, led by Anutin Charnvirakul, has urged all political parties to support the cancellation of the 2000 and 2001 Memorandums of Understanding on Thai-Cambodian border demarcation due to repeated Cambodian transgressions.
  • Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, a former deputy prime minister, hosted Anutin Charnvirakul for lunch at his Five Provinces Bordering Forest Preservation Foundation, where they discussed the national situation and political issues.
  • The meeting took place just 24 hours before the Constitutional Court is scheduled to rule on the ethics of suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
  • If Paetongtarn is removed from office, parliament would have to meet and select a new premier from a short list of candidates proposed by parties prior to the 2023 election.
  • Anutin Charnvirakul's Bhumjaithai Party has 69 MPs, and the minimum number of MPs for prime ministerial nomination was set at 25.
  • Some pundits believe Anutin has an outside shot at becoming prime minister if he can rally the right support.
  • Bhumjaithai quit the coalition government in June and called on Paetongtarn to take responsibility for the fallout from her phone call with Hun Sen.

Statistics:

  • Bhumjaithai Party has 69 MPs.
  • The minimum number of MPs for prime ministerial nomination is 25.
  • The Constitutional Court is scheduled to rule on the ethics of suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

Sources:

  • The Bhumjaithai Party's statement on the Memorandums of Understanding on Thai-Cambodian border demarcation.
  • The Bangkok Post's article on Anutin Charnvirakul's meeting with Gen Prawit Wongsuwon.
  • The Constitutional Court's schedule for ruling on the ethics of suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.