The U.S. ambassador to Thailand has dismissed claims of American interference that arose after the recent electoral gains of liberal parties, saying that Washington does not support any particular candidate or political party.
Claims of the U.S. meddling in the May 14 vote have swirled since the reformist Move Forward Party raked in the most votes, with the populist opposition Pheu Thai Party coming in second—thus raising the possibility of a coalition government that could take power from the current Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.
Prayuth, a former general who seized power in 2014 after launching a military coup, began his second term after a highly contested election in 2019. The claims of American interference are widely seen as originating from supporters of Prayuth’s incumbent government.
At a roundtable session with dozens of Thai journalists, U.S. Ambassador Robert Godec called the rumors “a disservice to the tens of millions who participated in the political process as voters, as election officials, as poll watchers.”
“Given the persistent and pernicious conspiracy theories, let me be clear,” Godec said. “We categorically reject the false rumors that the United States interfered in the Thai election.”
After the election, the reformist Move Forward Party signed an agreement with seven other parties on a joint platform that they hope will lead to the formation of a coalition government in July.
But the coalition faces a big hurdle: though it holds a strong majority in the lower House, the country’s prime minister is selected by a joint vote of the lower House and the Senate—whose members were appointed by Prayuth’s military government after the coup.
Godec stressed that the U.S. has worked with the current government for years. Last year, Prayuth visited the White House along with other leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
“The United States has no preferred candidate, we have no preferred political party in Thailand,” he said. “What we do is support the democratic process. The Thai people alone should choose the government.”
Prayuth’s ruling government has been accused of human rights suppression—even after his re-election in 2019. When he came to power, Prayuth launched a campaign to restore “happiness” to the Thai people, for which he wrote several songs. He also formulated “twelve values” based on traditional Thai principles, and suggested that these be included in school lessons.
Key points on the agenda of the social democratic Move Forward Party are the legalization of same-sex marriage, social welfare programs, decentralizing administrative power, drafting a new and more democratic constitution, and scrapping military conscription.
However, the coalition agreement the Move Forward Party signed made no mention of abolishing the controversial lèse-majesté law, which makes it illegal to defame, insult, or threaten the monarch of Thailand.
Godec said that Washington would continue to work with Thailand’s government regardless of who becomes the next prime minister.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
