III - The Roles of the Generals in the 22 March General Election

Summary

The 22 March 1992 election was held under the cover of military manipulation. In the first place, the election was promised by the military junta which seized power in a coup from Prime Minister Chatichai Choonhavan in 23 February 1991. Since the late 1970s the dominance of the military in politics has begun to decline and the influence of other social groups such as the business group has started to rise. The 1991 coup could be viewed as the military's attempt to seize back its power turf which was increasingly penetrated by the rise of business-oriented politicians, whom Chatichai represented. However, the military could no longer blatantly hold on to power without being democratic at least in form. Against this background, therefore, despite its pledge to have the March election, the military was — quite understandably — still concerned about its hold on political power. Subsequent events demonstrated this quite clearly.

The Pro-Military 1991 Constitution and Pro-Military Political Parties: The Military Reasserting in Politics

Prior to the March election, the military had invented various means to remain influential in politics. First of all, it planned to perpetuate its power through the writing of a new constitution. Clauses in the 1991 Constitution which enhanced the domination of the military included the following:

1. • the power of the military junta to appoint 270 senators for the Upper House;

2. • the appointed senators have as much power as elected members of the House of Representatives. The senators are allowed to vote in critical sessions, as when government decrees are up for approval. (The significance of this is that if decrees that are issued when Parliament is not in session are not eventually passed, the government has to resign.) Furthermore, senators are allowed to participate in a no-confidence motion;

3. • the president of the senate is automatically president of Parliament;

4. • a non-elected person can be appointed prime minister.