The Hubris of Palang Pracharath

My piece for Thai Enquirer:

“Never regret thy fall, O Icarus of the fearless flight. For the greatest tragedy of them all, is never to feel the burning light.” 

Words penned, supposedly, by Oscar Wilde, and ones that Thailand’s ruling party seems committed to heeding. 

Palang Pracharath is currently a party to envy. Helped by a favorable constitution, its political position is impregnable. With a majority much bolstered by defections, its parliamentary strength is unassailable. The opposition, weakened and divided, presents no real threat. Thailand’s success in suppressing the coronavirus has earned plaudits. 

One would imagine that a competent government would capitalize on this situation by presenting itself as a strong guiding hand that can continue moving the nation forward as it faces the economic crisis...Incredibly, however, the PPRP has decided that this moment would be perfect for indulging in much more pleasurable pursuits. Factional infighting, backroom dealing, whispers of backstabbing: why offer the country strong direction when one can pursue the traditional joys of Thai politics?

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(Cover image credits)