Station 12: Easy and Controllable Path (But Not Taken)

Matichon•Politics•11h ago

Reader Briefing

The Thai government under 'Anutin 2' is criticized for allegedly sidelining the drafting of a new constitution, despite public demand.

•The 'Anutin 2' government has announced its policies, focusing on economic issues with technocrats.
•Critics accuse the government of deliberately 'forgetting' the crucial task of drafting a new constitution, despite 21 million votes supporting it.
•The current constitution (2017) is seen by many as a significant obstacle to political and social progress.
•Drafting a new constitution is presented as an easier, more controllable path for the government than addressing complex economic crises.

Overview

•The 'Anutin 2' government has announced its policies after addressing parliament, gaining full administrative power.
•The government appears to prioritize economic issues, relying on technocrats like Ekniti Nitithanprapas and Supachai Suthumphun.
•It is observed that the government seems to deliberately and subtly 'neglect' the mission of drafting a new constitution.
•This is despite the fact that 21 million votes from the referendum on February 8, 2026, indicated a desire for a new constitution to replace the 2017 version.
•The drafting of a new constitution is considered a mission of low priority or non-existent in the 'Anutin 2' cabinet's plans.
•The 2017 constitution is viewed by many as the most severe trap, obstacle, or problem in current Thai political society.
•Drafting a new constitution is deemed an achievable task for the current government, which holds a comfortable majority in the House of Representatives with 190 seats.
•The government's control over the drafting process allows them to dictate the extent of progressiveness and power structure changes in a new constitution.

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Source: Matichon (Original)

Key Quotes

Anonymous Analyst

"The 'blue power network' can determine how 'progressive' a new constitution can be if Thai people want one, with the state (meaning the government and its supporters) deciding."

เครือข่ายอำนาจสีน้ำเงิน สามารถกำหนดได้หมดว่า ถ้าคนไทยอยากได้รัฐธรรมนูญใหม่ รัฐ (หมายถึงรัฐบาลและบรรดาผู้ที่คอยสนับสนุนรัฐบาลอยู่ข้างหลัง) จะอนุญาตให้รัฐธรรมนูญใหม่นั้น “ก้าวหน้า” ได้แค่ไหน?

Anonymous Analyst

"From this perspective, drafting a new constitution appears easier and more controllable than implementing various economic policies."

มองในแง่นี้ การจัดทำรัฐธรรมนูญฉบับใหม่ก็ดูเป็นงานที่ง่ายและควบคุมได้มากกว่าการดำเนินนโยบายเศรษฐกิจต่างๆ เสียอีก

Key Entities

Organization

Anutin 2 Government(รัฐบาลอนุทิน 2)

The current Thai government led by Anutin Charnvirakul after taking office.

Person

Ekniti Nitithanprapas(เอกนิติ นิติทัณฑ์ประภาศ)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance in the Anutin 2 Government.

Supachai Suthumphun(ศุภจี สุธรรมพันธุ์)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce in the Anutin 2 Government.

Law

Constitution of 2017(รัฐธรรมนูญ 2017)

The current constitution of Thailand, drafted in the year 2017, which is subject to criticism for being an obstacle to political reform.