Thai protests: #RepublicofThailand hashtag trends on Twitter after constitutional change delayed

The youth-led pro-democracy movement has been calling to reduce the powers of the king, and to scrap the 250 appointed members of the upper house

The republican hashtag has been used in more than 730,000 tweets since Friday morning, the social media platform said

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Protesters flash the three-fingered salute at a gathering on September 24, 2020. Photo: dpa

Published: 4:08pm, 25 Sep 2020Updated: 9:33pm, 25 Nov 2020

The hashtag #RepublicofThailand trended on Twitter in Thailand on Friday after parliament voted to push back the question of changing the constitution as protesters have demanded.

During more than two months of anti-government protests, some protest leaders have said they seek constitutional reforms to reduce the powers of King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s monarchy but that they were not seeking to abolish it.

The republican hashtag, in English rather than Thai, had been used in more than 730,000 Tweets and was the top trending hashtag in Thailand on Friday morning, according to Twitter.

“We need change. No more kingdom of Thailand, we need #RepublicofThailand,” one user said.

“We want to elect the president,” said another.

The Royal Palace did not comment and has made no response to requests for comment on the protests or the demands for royal reform.

Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said he had not seen the hashtag and declined to comment on it but said Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha was listening to all sides on the issue of the constitution.

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