BANGKOK — The recent collapse of joint parliamentary sessions on February 13-14 highlights the increasingly difficult path to amending Thailand’s 2017 military-era constitution.
The sessions, which failed to meet quorum requirements, were meant to consider two constitutional amendment drafts proposed by the Pheu Thai and Move Forward parties.
The obstacles aren’t just in the constitution’s carefully crafted “blocking” mechanisms. A clearer political picture has emerged showing that Bhumjaithai Party, the third-largest party in parliament with its signature blue color, now wields considerable leverage over the ruling Pheu Thai Party through its control of at least 140 Senate votes.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra appears to have accepted this new reality. After Bhumjaithai MPs and their “blue network” senators walked out of the tense session, she diplomatically stated, “This is the parliamentary mechanism. MPs and senators can have different opinions, and when the two houses disagree, this is the result.”
The Bhumjaithai Party, which was part of the previous Prayut Chan-o-cha government since 2019, has significantly strengthened its negotiating position. Beyond its Senate network, the party has shown competitive strength against Pheu Thai in recent local elections on February 1, despite not officially fielding candidates under its banner.
Even former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has softened his previously frustrated stance toward Bhumjaithai’s limited cooperation with government policies. He now acknowledges that Pheu Thai is unlikely to achieve a landslide victory in the next general election, stating, “We don’t want to be a single-party government anymore. A bird without feathers, a person without friends – that’s not good. We need allies, just not too many to avoid headaches.”
The Move Forward Party’s leader, Natthapong Ruangpanyawut, has called for parliament’s dissolution, recognizing that Pheu Thai is powerless to advance its agenda without Bhumjaithai’s support.
Meanwhile, Pheu Thai’s strategist Sutin Klangsaeng revealed that his party deliberately allowed the session to collapse rather than risk a failed vote. The party plans to seek constitutional court interpretation of unclear points next week.
This political maneuvering demonstrates how Bhumjaithai, through its control of crucial Senate votes and growing provincial influence, has emerged as a powerful gatekeeper in Thai politics, effectively able to block major constitutional reforms despite being a junior coalition partner.
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