Pheu Thai looking at property developer tycoon Srettha for PM role after next General Election

[webfact]

The Head of the Sansiri property development empire Srettha Thavisin is tipped by political sources to be one of three Pheu Thai Party nominees for Prime Minister in the next General Election. (Inset) Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his 35-year-old daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

 

by Joseph O' Connor

The speculation about who may lead a Pheu Thai government comes with the party doing well in opinion polls and after it unveiled a radical and comprehensive economic strategy last week in Bangkok. Positive opinion poll figures are being driven by the possible candidacy of Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of Thaksin Shinawatra and the latest flag bearer for the Shinawatra political dynasty which, while generating enthusiasm among the party’s grassroots, also runs the risk of precipitating another army coup despite denials by military leaders this week.

 

Supporters of the move to nominate Sansiri chief Srettha Thavisin as one of the party’s nominees for prime minister say it is important that Thailand’s largest political grouping is seen as looking beyond the Shinawatra family with a disturbing increase in speculation about the possibility of another coup d’état if the 35-year-old daughter of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, is installed in the role without having sufficient prior experience in government or the day to day running of a large business organisation. The party is expected to make a formal announcement shortly, a move that will be integral to its election strategy and its ability to take up the reins of power after the next General Election.

 

It is being reported in circles linked with the leading opposition Pheu Thai Party that property developer and real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin is seriously being considered by the party as one of its three nominees for prime minister for the upcoming General Election.

 

Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2022/10/16/pheu-thai-looking-at-tycoon-srettha-for-pm/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2022-10-17

 

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[RandiRona]

Why do they always need Tycoons to save poor Thais??

[2baht]

1 hour ago, RandiRona said:

Why do they always need Tycoons to save poor Thais??

Bids are higher! ????

[Jerno]

Yes...a property developer knows lots about government and running a country.  Trump Thai style?Sheesh!

[CharlieH]

Reported off topic post removed.

[stoner]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

speculation about the possibility of another coup d’état if the 35-year-old daughter of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, is installed in the role without having sufficient prior experience in government or the day to day running of a large business organisation.

as opposed to the current gang of muppets running the show. 

[stoner]

1 hour ago, Jerno said:

Yes...a property developer knows lots about government and running a country.  Trump Thai style?Sheesh!

why are you talking about trump ?

[kingstonkid]

If PT is going to be seriously thought of as a political force and not a puppet of the Shin family it needs to move as far away as possible from Thaksin.

 

If his daughter has any real desire to be a political force then run her as a candidate and put her in the government to show that she can do it.

 

Just because she has the name and is daddy's little girl is not going to get them anywhere.  As soon as she starts doing daddy's business the people will again revolt.

 

Srettha Thavisin actually knows how to run a business and how to get things done.  If not he would not be so wealthy.  The fact also that he is not a politician is a good thing.  He has built his fortune by hand not been given it through huge envelopes like a lot of people.

 

 

[scorecard]

7 hours ago, RandiRona said:

Why do they always need Tycoons to save poor Thais??

Tycoons with vested interests very focused on big revenues which can be/are strongly affected by the 'right' laws and regulations.

[spidermike007]

I do not think another coup would ever be possible again. 

 

1. Thailand no longer has the moral authority behind the previous coups. 

 

2. The army does not have the ability to wage war against their people, Burma style. 

Won't happen. The Thai army does not have the guts for it, and the Thai soldiers, and the families of the soldiers would never tolerate their sons murdering innocent Thais. And the Thai soldiers are not facing the level of desperation the young Burmese are. The poverty here is not as grinding as it is in Burma. I do not think it could be sustained, if the fools started it. Thailand is a very different culture than Burma, on a dozen significant levels. And the youth now, are very different people than they were during past coups, which were violent.
 
The army is in a difficult position now. If voted out, they would have to accept it. The generals would have to be content with their massive fortunes. 
 

[hotandsticky]

8 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

I do not think another coup would ever be possible again. 

 

1. Thailand no longer has the moral authority behind the previous coups. 

 

2. The army does not have the ability to wage war against their people, Burma style. 

Won't happen. The Thai army does not have the guts for it, and the Thai soldiers, and the families of the soldiers would never tolerate their sons murdering innocent Thais. And the Thai soldiers are not facing the level of desperation the young Burmese are. The poverty here is not as grinding as it is in Burma. I do not think it could be sustained, if the fools started it. Thailand is a very different culture than Burma, on a dozen significant levels. And the youth now, are very different people than they were during past coups, which were violent.
 
The army is in a difficult position now. If voted out, they would have to accept it. The generals would have to be content with their massive fortunes. 
 

I think you are wrong.

 

Coups are the nature of the beast in Thailand; the people have seen little change in their lives under Coup governments, or others.

 

 

You exaggerate what would happen in the event of a Coup and there would be no pitchfork rebellion. The Thai army have far more 'guts' (and power) than the Thai civilians will ever have.

[hotandsticky]

5 hours ago, stoner said:

as opposed to the current gang of muppets running the show. 

 

[MyFriend You]

8 hours ago, RandiRona said:

Why do they always need Tycoons to save poor Thais??

Because they know how to make money!!!   Something thwe current administration hasn;t a clue, they only spend it.     Peace

[Eric Loh]

20 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

I think you are wrong.

 

Coups are the nature of the beast in Thailand; the people have seen little change in their lives under Coup governments, or others.

 

 

You exaggerate what would happen in the event of a Coup and there would be no pitchfork rebellion. The Thai army have far more 'guts' (and power) than the Thai civilians will ever have.

Circumstances have changed much this time around that may perhaps influence the need for future coups. In the past. mayhem on the streets resulted in public outrage at the government's failure to contain the chaos help invite military intervention without much resistance. When politics polarized and got bogged down, many viewed coups can bring solutions. The call for coups came from the right wing yellow shirts who were themselves involved in instigating the chaos. After 2 coups with no improvement in the political and economic conditions, the right wings are frustrated and may not support future coups.

 

There is also a significant change in the militay units that were in the heart of Bangkok. These units have been the vanguard of most recent coups. They now have been re-deployed outside Bangkok. They will not have an easy passage into Bangkok. These units are now under direct royal command; not military command. Lastly the current army chief Gen. Narongphan is a royalist and has not shown any political ambition. He preferred a quiety and background role. 

[hotchilli]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

It is being reported in circles linked with the leading opposition Pheu Thai Party that property developer and real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin is seriously being considered by the party as one of its three nominees for prime minister for the upcoming General Election.

If he has a good business sense, can lead a party and pick real workers who know what they're doing in office then he might be a welcome change.

[candide]

5 hours ago, kingstonkid said:

If PT is going to be seriously thought of as a political force and not a puppet of the Shin family it needs to move as far away as possible from Thaksin.

 

If his daughter has any real desire to be a political force then run her as a candidate and put her in the government to show that she can do it.

 

Just because she has the name and is daddy's little girl is not going to get them anywhere.  As soon as she starts doing daddy's business the people will again revolt.

 

Srettha Thavisin actually knows how to run a business and how to get things done.  If not he would not be so wealthy.  The fact also that he is not a politician is a good thing.  He has built his fortune by hand not been given it through huge envelopes like a lot of people.

 

 

It's a bit more complex. Being Thaksin's party is likely one of the main reason PT was regularly elected as one of the top parties.

 

As concerns Thavisin, I don't know his career, but when someone gets rich in Thailand (in particular in real estate business)......

[ourmanflint]

He seems like a move in right direction, he thinks, that at least is a good thing. And he's not one of those xenophobic Thailand first guys

[connda]

I like our cannabis friend Anutin.  Anutin for PM.

[connda]

3 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

 

"Learn to sit back and create memes plastered on the pictures of movies stars who probably never uttered the quote you've posted."
-- Attributed to Pussy Riot, but then again, maybe not.

[2baht]

4 hours ago, TunnelRat69 said:

Because they know how to make money!!!   Something thwe current administration hasn;t a clue, they only spend it.     Peace

You don't think they have'nt pocketed a ship load of ill gotten gains? ????????

[spidermike007]

5 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

I think you are wrong.

 

Coups are the nature of the beast in Thailand; the people have seen little change in their lives under Coup governments, or others.

 

 

You exaggerate what would happen in the event of a Coup and there would be no pitchfork rebellion. The Thai army have far more 'guts' (and power) than the Thai civilians will ever have.

I agree they have more power. However, I think they are gutless cowards. 

[scorecard]

4 hours ago, hotchilli said:

If he has a good business sense, can lead a party and pick real workers who know what they're doing in office then he might be a welcome change.

Yep they will know what to do in the office and possibly quite good at strategizing everything so that it aids property developers. 

[scorecard]

2 hours ago, candide said:

It's a bit more complex. Being Thaksin's party is likely one of the main reason PT was regularly elected as one of the top parties.

 

As concerns Thavisin, I don't know his career, but when someone gets rich in Thailand (in particular in real estate business)......

From above... "It's a bit more complex. Being Thaksin's party is likely one of the main reason PT was regularly elected as one of the top parties."

 

Sure, very true because there's a direct line to whatever is needed to ensure he gets the votes.

[hotandsticky]

1 hour ago, connda said:

"Learn to sit back and create memes plastered on the pictures of movies stars who probably never uttered the quote you've posted."
-- Attributed to Pussy Riot, but then again, maybe not.

I don't care????...I like Morgan Freeman and I like the quote...

[hotandsticky]

43 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

I agree they have more power. However, I think they are gutless cowards. 

 

I wouldn't disagree with that !

[scorecard]

11 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I do not think another coup would ever be possible again. 

 

1. Thailand no longer has the moral authority behind the previous coups. 

 

2. The army does not have the ability to wage war against their people, Burma style. 

Won't happen. The Thai army does not have the guts for it, and the Thai soldiers, and the families of the soldiers would never tolerate their sons murdering innocent Thais. And the Thai soldiers are not facing the level of desperation the young Burmese are. The poverty here is not as grinding as it is in Burma. I do not think it could be sustained, if the fools started it. Thailand is a very different culture than Burma, on a dozen significant levels. And the youth now, are very different people than they were during past coups, which were violent.
 
The army is in a difficult position now. If voted out, they would have to accept it. The generals would have to be content with their massive fortunes. 
 

But who/how will the appointed large mob in the senate by 'voted' out?

[kwilco]

On 10/16/2022 at 9:23 PM, RandiRona said:

Why do they always need Tycoons to save poor Thais??

Like Trump or Rishi Sunak?

[kwilco]

18 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I do not think another coup would ever be possible again. 

 

1. Thailand no longer has the moral authority behind the previous coups. 

 

2. The army does not have the ability to wage war against their people, Burma style. 

Won't happen. The Thai army does not have the guts for it, and the Thai soldiers, and the families of the soldiers would never tolerate their sons murdering innocent Thais. And the Thai soldiers are not facing the level of desperation the young Burmese are. The poverty here is not as grinding as it is in Burma. I do not think it could be sustained, if the fools started it. Thailand is a very different culture than Burma, on a dozen significant levels. And the youth now, are very different people than they were during past coups, which were violent.
 
The army is in a difficult position now. If voted out, they would have to accept it. The generals would have to be content with their massive fortunes. 
 

Very wide of the mark....As many politicians have openly discussed a coup in just the last few months 

You underestimate the place of the coup as a tool in everyday politics in Thailand.

Not sure what you think constitutes "moral authority" for coup?

You also overlook the army's  belief that they have an inalienable right to run the country.

They also have a guaranteed majority in parliament thanks to the current condition.

However the Taksin side of politics has since the beginning of this century had by far the largest following and potential majority.

The media has had to downplay this and the government has tried to culture an image of an opposition that is spent and unimportant. 

Despite this they haven't lost an inch.

How this will play out after an election remains to be seen. But the pheu Thai will certainly demand constitutional reform to get the military out of politics....but how they try to achieve this will determine how soon a coup will happen. My guess is massive protests in Bkk will allow the army to step in to ".

"restore order".

So yes, there could very well be a coup....it is a way of life in Thai politics.

Let's hope that it doesn't escalate into major bloodshed. This is not the norm for coups in Thailand 

 

Edited October 17, 2022 by kwilco