Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej survived a no-confidence vote yesterday, mustering enough votes in parliament despite harsh criticism of his four months in power and public protests against him.
But the outspoken 73-year-old still faces a political battle ahead, with his government under fire over everything from soaring food prices to perceived slights to Thailand’s revered king.
The prime minister has also been accused of acting on behalf of his predecessor Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 military coup that installed its own leaders until new elections brought Samak to power in February.
House speaker Chai Chidchob told parliament that 280 members of parliament (MPs) had voted in support of Samak with 162 voting against.
“Therefore Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej can continue his premiership,” he said.
The vote ended three days of heated debate that saw Samak and his Cabinet grilled by opposition MPs, who barraged them with accusations of mishandling the government in this nation of 65 million people.
Foremost among their accusations was that Samak, who openly campaigned for office as a proxy for Thaksin, was trying to interfere in corruption cases laid against the billionaire tycoon when he was toppled from power.
Thaksin antagonized Bangkok’s elite with policies such as free health care that endeared him to the populous rural heartland, and Samak has tried with limited success to distance himself from his predecessor.
Samak’s government has also been accused of failing to handle soaring food prices, not defending the monarchy against criticism and handing control of a disputed heritage site to Cambodia.
With street protests by the so-called People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) continuing outside his office, Samak faces an uphill battle to broaden his public support, political analyst Prayad Hongtongkhum said.
“How long the government will remain in its position will depend on its ability to solve the problems facing the Thai public,” Prayad said.
“We are going to see a long fight in Thai politics. It is up to the government to gain better support from the people who have been suffering from the rising cost of living,” he said.
PAD protesters have been rallying for the past two months, and last week set up camp outside Samak’s offices.
“The government will still face protests,” Prayad said. “PAD will certainly not retreat from their position that the government must leave office.”
The PAD-led protests against Thaksin in the months before the coup, and its latest demonstrations have raised rumors of a new coup — fears that have hit the Thai stock market especially hard.
The group’s rallies are small but exert an outsized influence because its leadership is seen as a reflection of the traditional power centers in the palace and the military.
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