Prayut Challenges Anutin to Resign if Bhumjaithai Constitution Draft Fails Second Referendum
Pheu Thai deputy leader Prayut challenges PM Anutin to resign if Bhumjaithai's constitution draft fails a second referendum, citing international precedent for accountability when governments lose public votes.
At 9 a.m. on May 26, 2025 at Parliament, Prayut Wachchirasindhu, a list-based MP and deputy leader of the Pheu Thai Party, explained the meaning of the "blue system" as a political faction exploiting loopholes in the 2017 Constitution. These loopholes allow Senate selection to be self-selecting and disconnected from the public, enabling political groups to manipulate and control Senate votes. By controlling the Senate, they can then control appointments to independent organizations, consolidating power across the executive, legislative, and independent agencies.
When asked if the blue system would complicate constitutional amendments, Prayut said the challenge is real, but the critical factor for success is the voice of 21 million citizens who voted in the referendum demanding a new constitution. They want to escape political factions created through collusion and weak oversight mechanisms.
Asked how 21 million voices can counter the blue system in Parliament, Prayut outlined three ways: First, Pheu Thai representatives will be seated in Parliament as the opposition to scrutinize the process. Second, he believes the 21 million referendum votes will bind all parties to proceed with a new constitution. Third, the public's voice matters for a potential second referendum, since if Bhumjaithai uses its parliamentary majority to push through Article 256 amendments favoring their draft—which risks monopolizing power by concentrating authority with the Senate—and if most citizens reject it in a second referendum, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul should take political responsibility.
Prayut referenced international standards: when governments clearly take a position on referendums and results contradict them, prime ministers typically resign to show accountability, citing the British Brexit referendum example.
When asked if a second referendum campaign against the new constitution draft is possible, Prayut said not to rush to conclusions, as they're currently preparing for the first reading. The goal is aligning the draft with Pheu Thai's three principles and passing the first reading to find common ground in the subcommittee. He insisted the people's voice has meaning: "If Bhumjaithai uses parliamentary majority to make the final draft match theirs entirely..."
