New Pheu Thai leader to be known after April 1: Watana

By THE NATION

 

Photo from: Watana's Facebook

 

THE NEW LEADER of Pheu Thai Party will be known after April 1 and there would be no surprises, key party figure Watana Muangsook said.

 

Watana revealed about the new party leader on his Facebook post on Thursday with photos of him and fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra taken in Singapore. 

 

Thaksin and his sister Yingluck, also a fugitive former PM, recently travelled to China, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore. Both former PMs met many Pheu Thai leaders and former MPs. 

 

Party sources said they had discussed the party’s new leader with Thaksin. 

They claimed Thaksin still supported Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan to be the new leader.

 

In his post, Watana – who said he often meets Thaksin abroad during festive seasons for blessing – denied the former PM’s influence in selecting the party leader, saying it was just a rumour and not true. 

 

“Whoever will be picked to take that post must be a person who fought alongside the party and the people after the coup, otherwise party members will not accept [the candidate],” he posted.

 

“We have to wait until after April 1. There would be no surprises and its’ a familiar face,” he added. 

 

April 1 is the starting date for existing political parties to begin communicating with party members about confirming their memberships. 

 

Watana said his party had yet to choose a candidate to become the next prime minister. He named five senior leaders – Sudarat, Chaturon Chaisang, Bhokin Bhalakula, Chaikasem Nitisiri and Phongthep Thepkanjana – as the frontrunners.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30339553

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-02-24

I guess it would come as surprise if Prayuth was nominated? 

Ryan Seacrest is going to make the announcement, I heard.

I don't really care but if the Pheu Thai Party wins the celebration party outside of Bangkok will last for six months.

 

I guess we will be circling the wagons here in Hua Hin.

 

THE NEW LEADER of Pheu Thai Party will be known after April 1.

 

.....could not have chosen a more appropriate date!

We already know the new leader, Thaksin supports Suradath. Thaksin is the main man. The only reason they are now saying it will be known later is because there is a  new law prohibiting outside influences on domestic political parties. Guess what Thaksin a convicted criminal is considered such an outside influence. Now all of the PTP are trying to make it look like Thaksin is not calling the shots and the visits they had outside the country had nothing to do with politics. 

 

Who are they kidding, they are lying as much as Prawit and his watches. 

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Watana said his party had yet to choose a candidate to become the next prime minister.

 

They are pretty confident that they will win any election then !!!

Didn't they read the draft constitution ?? Prayut will be the next PM, no mater what...

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Party sources said they had discussed the party’s new leader with Thaksin. 

 

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

In his post, Watana – who said he often meets Thaksin abroad during festive seasons for blessing – denied the former PM’s influence in selecting the party leader, saying it was just a rumour and not true. 

Those two statements would appear to be contradictory. 

Always wonder why Sudarat is Thaksin’s choice as the other 4 candidates have stronger and more active participation in voicing dissent of the junta. All the candidates have good education background and have held ministerial positions before and faithful to the party since TRT days. 

 

Personally I thing Chaturon and Phongthep would be a better choice for their unwavering stance against coups and for democracy. Maybe the choice for Sudarat is because she has less political baggage that can be exploited by party opppsitions. 

8 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

 

Those two statements would appear to be contradictory. 

Come on.. Thakisn is the leader... everyone knows this and now the whole PTP is lying as much as the junta. Acting like we are all stupid and can't see through their lies. 

 

They just worry about the new law, if they worry that much maybe they should cut ties.

Just now, Eric Loh said:

Always wonder why Sudarat is Thaksin’s choice as the other 4 candidates have stronger and more active participation in voicing dissent of the junta. All the candidates have good education background and have held ministerial positions before and faithful to the party since TRT days. 

 

Personally I thing Chaturon and Phongthep would be a better choice for their unwavering stance against coups and for democracy. Maybe the choice for Sudarat is because she has less political baggage that can be exploited by party opppsitions. 

How about this one.. she is easiest to control.. Thaksin needs puppets.. not people who think for themselves.

Just now, robblok said:

How about this one.. she is easiest to control.. Thaksin needs puppets.. not people who think for themselves.

Doubt so. Thaksin couldn’t control her leaving the party after the ‘06 coup.

Just now, Eric Loh said:

Doubt so. Thaksin couldn’t control her leaving the party after the ‘06 coup.

Maybe I am wrong, but i still suspect its about control.

 

Just think about this for a moment Eric... Suradat is not the favorite of the party.. if she gets to power with Thaksins help she knows she is indebted. The people who are popular enough in the party don't need Thaksins help as much thus less indebted. 

4 minutes ago, robblok said:

Maybe I am wrong, but i still suspect its about control.

 

Just think about this for a moment Eric... Suradat is not the favorite of the party.. if she gets to power with Thaksins help she knows she is indebted. The people who are popular enough in the party don't need Thaksins help as much thus less indebted. 

Maybe she is a red herring to confuse the junta. I really don’t know. If she not selected which I think may happen; your theory will be de-bunked. My bet is on Bhokin who was nominated after Thaksin fled. With a close second on Phongthep who is the most well known internationally of the lot. Just my 2 cents worth of useless speculation. 

28 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

 

Those two statements would appear to be contradictory. 

 

Are you surprised?

1 minute ago, Eric Loh said:

Maybe she is a red herring to confuse the junta. I really don’t know. If she not selected which I think may happen; your theory will be de-bunked. My bet is on Bhokin who was nominated after Thaksin fled. With a close second on Phongthep who is the most well known internationally of the lot. Just my 2 cents worth of useless speculation. 

Speculation is not useless.. its what this forum is about, else we can just stop posting here.

 

Yea my theory could be debunked, or not. It would be a smart play for Thaksin in public to support someone while in secret and only known to the insiders support an other. It would make it a lot harder to prove that he is influencing politics. Then your red herring theory would be right. 

45 minutes ago, robblok said:

Come on.. Thakisn is the leader... everyone knows this and now the whole PTP is lying as much as the junta. Acting like we are all stupid and can't see through their lies. 

 

They just worry about the new law, if they worry that much maybe they should cut ties.

 

'...cut ties...'

 

Nice comment, but of course as likely to happen as pigs flying.

 

The reality is that they are his employees with benefits for being yes men. 

 

'...cut...'  is not and never will be the way this gang works, because without the paymasters money and the trough it creates the gang, and their interest in politics, will collapse in 5 minutes.

 

Next...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 24, 20188 yr by scorecard

50 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

 

Those two statements would appear to be contradictory. 

Discussion and influencing are different in meaning. See not hard to explain, 

6 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

Discussion and influencing are different in meaning. See not hard to explain, 

Someone’s lying would be a better explanation. 

11 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

Someone’s lying would be a better explanation. 

Yes. Could agree more. 

Regardless, they seem to be the best organized party.   Suthep has already said they will win again.  Short of less than divine military intervention, who will beat the red camp?  A PTP victory will be a tremendous slap to the military and their foppish wealthy inbred allies wanting control the country. 

34 minutes ago, yellowboat said:

Regardless, they seem to be the best organized party.   Suthep has already said they will win again.  Short of less than divine military intervention, who will beat the red camp?  A PTP victory will be a tremendous slap to the military and their foppish wealthy inbred allies wanting control the country. 

Not only they are the best organized, they also have been consistent with their political agenda and their supporters intact. Contrast that with the 2nd largest party fracturing internally and have been inconsistent with their political beliefs.

 

All said, the rumor mill has information of a new party that is non aligned and back by very powerful financiers that would challenge PTP. How this party fit into the political landscape will be interesting. Only a rumor until we see their registration and structure?

47 minutes ago, yellowboat said:

Regardless, they seem to be the best organized party.   Suthep has already said they will win again.  Short of less than divine military intervention, who will beat the red camp?  A PTP victory will be a tremendous slap to the military and their foppish wealthy inbred allies wanting control the country. 

 

'....best organized party....'

 

What an ironic comment.

 

Unfortunately the dems get progressively less interesting and don't appear to be addressing any of their weak points.

 

 

Edited February 24, 20188 yr by scorecard

9 hours ago, robblok said:

We already know the new leader, Thaksin supports Suradath. Thaksin is the main man. The only reason they are now saying it will be known later is because there is a  new law prohibiting outside influences on domestic political parties. Guess what Thaksin a convicted criminal is considered such an outside influence. Now all of the PTP are trying to make it look like Thaksin is not calling the shots and the visits they had outside the country had nothing to do with politics. 

 

Who are they kidding, they are lying as much as Prawit and his watches. 

 

Just like when they at first denied he told Yingluck what to do,  picked and re-shuffled several cabinets in the PTP administration, and Skype called into cabinet meetings. 

 

During the PTP government there was an endless procession of ministers, MP's and even policemen to meet the boss and get instructions, blessings and pitch for promotions.

These meetings must be like scenes from The Godfather movie!

 

Now this guys trying to deny Thaksin has any influence because they'll fall foul of a new law. And he actually expects people to believe him!!

8 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

Someone’s lying would be a better explanation. 

 

PTP are the party that openly said lying was ethical and telling lies to the electorate was acceptable practice. 

 

Why change a winning formula?

Asked the local bookie, odds on Sudarat being selected are VERY short.

A recent suggestion that you can tell when a PTP official is lying because his lips are moving has caused so much concern in the party that they are now offering all spokesmen ventriloquism lessons.

A quick google will find you a survey that concludes in May 2016 72% of PTP supporters questioned supported Sudarat...no other theories required as to why she may be a rather obvious choice

and if their base don't approve, they'll just claim the unveiling as an april fool's day joke.

12 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Just like when they at first denied he told Yingluck what to do,  picked and re-shuffled several cabinets in the PTP administration, and Skype called into cabinet meetings. 

 

During the PTP government there was an endless procession of ministers, MP's and even policemen to meet the boss and get instructions, blessings and pitch for promotions.

These meetings must be like scenes from The Godfather movie!

 

Now this guys trying to deny Thaksin has any influence because they'll fall foul of a new law. And he actually expects people to believe him!!

Maybe you right but it still baffles me that Thaksin put some weight on the selection of Jatuporn as a minister but never succeeded. 

 

Anyway, Yingluck reshuffled her cabinet  4 times in 3 years which is same as Prayut’s frequency.