Illegitimate Succession of Political Power

Abstract

           The succession of political power in Thailand has begun since the Siamese revolution of 1932. The revolutionary government had succeeded power for 25 years. Until, Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat seized power in coup d’etat in 1957. Subsequently, Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachon was succeeded power for the next 16 years from Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat, until Day of Great Sorrow took place on 14^th October, 1973.

          After the incident on 14^th October, 1973, then Thailand government promulgated the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, B.E. 2517 (1974) by which Thailand seemed to became the complete democracy, but another violent incident broke out on 6^th October 1976. The military had taken a coup to set up a civilian government, with Mr. Thanin Kraivichien as Prime Minister and a plan to seize power for up to 12 years. However, after one year of the administration, the government was toppled and the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, B.E. 2521 (1978) was promulgated. Politicians stepped in to gained power and committed corruption widely by which the military coup was staged a gain in February1991. After that, the election took place in March, 1992 and General Suchinda Kraprayoonservedas Prime Minister. The protest was sparked over the alleged succession of political power, until the1992 Black May took place and led to a demand for political reform. To solve these problems, the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, B.E. 2540 (1997). Politicians exploited the legal loophole of the Constitution to succeed political power, which was the cause of the coup in 2006. Later in 2014, the coup d’etat council set up the Constitution Drafting Committee, which promulgated the Constitution on 6^th April 2017. It seems this Constitution will facilitate the succession of political power of Military Corps through political process. Finally, Thailand will have a political problem like the past.