Pheu Thai’s high-risk strategy spells disaster, academic says

Political scientists have raised concerns over the spate of political manoeuvring that has broken out, with the Pheu Thai Party moving to dissolve the House and Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul’s bid to form a new government, warning that the former strategy carries serious risks while the latter faces fewer legal hurdles.

- MONGKOL BANGPRAPA AEKARACH SATTABURUTH

Stithorn Thananithichot, a political science lecturer at Chulalongkorn University, said Pheu Thai has played its “last card” by petitioning for a House dissolution. He described the move as fraught with danger because no law sets a timeframe for royal endorsement of such a matter.

“If there is silence and no royal command is issued, who would be held accountable? The party risks being criticised for causing unease and may suffer a sharp drop in popularity in any future election,” he said.