ROLES AND POLITICAL COMMUNICATION OF MOVE FORWARD PARTY MEMBERS OF PARIAMENT IN SCRUTINIZING THE GOVERNMENT OF GENERAL PRAYUT CHAN-O-CHA: A CASE STUDY OF NO-CONFIDENCE DEBATES DURING THE PARLIAMENTARY SESSIONS, 2019–2022

Abstract

This research article aims to: 1. examine the political context influencing the roles and political communication of members of parliament from the Move Forward Party in scrutinizing the government of Prayut Chan-o-cha during the ordinary parliamentary sessions from 2019 to 2022, and 2. investigate the roles and processes of political communication employed by Move Forward Party members of parliament in monitoring government administration through parliamentary no-confidence debates against the Prayut administration. This study employed David Berlo’s communication theory and the political communication theory of Brian McNair as the principal conceptual frameworks. The research adopted a qualitative approach, utilizing in-depth interviews with 12 key informants alongside documentary research from relevant sources. Data were analyzed descriptively through processes of data reduction, data presentation, and academic synthesis based on logical reasoning.

The findings revealed that: 1. the political context during 2019–2022 constituted a significant factor shaping the roles and patterns of political communication among members of parliament from the Move Forward Party. This context not only affected their role as the parliamentary opposition, but also cultivated a form of political communication characterized by intensity, proactiveness, and a strong orientation toward public engagement alongside parliamentary duties. Moreover, the 2017 Constitution, often referred to as the “anti-corruption constitution,” functioned as a crucial mechanism enabling the post-coup government to maintain its political power. As a result, the opposition was unable to fully utilize parliamentary mechanisms as an effective tool for balancing and scrutinizing the executive branch. 2. the roles and communication processes of Move Forward Party members of parliament were found to correspond with Brian McNair’s theory of political communication, which emphasizes three principal components: political parties, mass media, and the public. The findings demonstrated a pattern of political communication consistent with the dynamics of contemporary politics. Although the no-confidence debates did not immediately produce structural changes in political power, they significantly influenced public perception, agenda-setting processes, and the expansion of political participation among citizens.