The 2007 constitution was intended to deal with the weaknesses said to be inherent
in the 1997 constitution. Among these were cronyism and the politicisation of
appointments to national institutions such as the Constitutional Court, the National
Anti-Corruption Commission and Election Commission. Some key features of
the 2007 constitution were clearly directly targeted at Thaksin: the limiting of the
prime minister’s term of office to eight consecutive years^78 and the ban on the prime
minister’s having stakes in private businesses. While the 1997 constitution had pro-
vided safeguards for the appointment of key officials in national institutions, Thaksin
was able to subvert these safeguards by controlling the Senate, which was responsible
for these appointments. Under the 2007 constitution, only half the 150 -member Senate
would be popularly elected; the other half would be chosen by a Senators Selective
Committee^79 comprising the presidents of the Constitutional Court, the Election
Commission, the ombudsmen, the National Counter-Corruption Commission, the
State Audit Commission, a judge of the Supreme Court and a judge of the Supreme
Administrative Court.
80
ThesizeoftheHouseofRepresentativeswasalsoreduced
from 500 to 480 ,
81
and the threshold for a vote of no confidence in the prime minister
was reduced from two-fifths to one-fifth of the members of the National Assembly.
The 2007 constitution was viewed by many as being biased in favour of
the armed forces and was thought to lead to greater factionalism and political
instability.
82
Elections under the 2007 constitution were held on 23 December
- The Palang Prachachon, or People’s Power, Party (PPP) – actually the Thai
Rak Thai Party in a reconstituted guise – and its allies emerged victorious, securing
233 of the 480 seats in the House of Representatives. Their main rivals, the
Democrat Party under Abhisit Vejjajiva, won 165 seats. In January 2008 , PPP leader
Samak Suntaravej was sworn in as prime minister at the head of a coalition
government that included the Chart Thai (Thai Nation), Pue Paendin
(For the Motherland), Matchimathippatai (Neutral Democratic Party), Ruam-
jaithai Chartpattana (Thais United National Development) and Pracharaj (State’s
Citizens) parties, leaving the Democrat Party the sole opposition party.
Political mayhem and new elections ( 2008 – 2011 )
Even though the PPP secured electoral victory, the political situation remained
volatile. In June 2008 , the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), headed by
Thaksin’s chief critic, Sondhi Limthongkul, staged a protest against the PPP govern-
ment. Wearing yellow shirts, PAD supporters were seen to be anti-Thaksin and
royalist. The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), wearing red
(^78) The Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand (Constitution of Thailand), 2007 , Section 171.
(^79) Constitution of Thailand, Section 111. (^80) Constitution of Thailand, Section 113.
(^81) Constitution of Thailand, Section 93.
(^82) Erik Martinez Kuhonta, ‘The paradox of Thailand’s 1997 “People’s Constitution”: be
careful what you wish for’,Asian Survey 48 ( 3 ) (May/June 2008 ) 373.