Pheu Thai Party nominee for Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin this week gave an interview to the Thai Matichon publishing group in which he defended the party’s latest economic policy announcement of a digital wallet valued at ฿10,000 for all Thai nationals over 16 if the party comes to power after the next General Election, a stimulus that he suggested will be repeated on an ongoing basis to boost GDP and money in circulation within local economies. Mr Srettha also revealed that Pheu Thai will announce its main nominee for the top job on the same day as the General Election, May 14th next.

 

 

by Carla Boonkong & Pranee O' Connor

 

On Monday 14th, the day of the General Election, Pheu Thai’s national executive will meet to select its primary nominee to be put before parliament for election as Thailand’s next Prime Minister.

 

It is clear that 59-year-old Srettha Thavisin, a highly successful businessman who since 1995 has built up the Sansiri property group into an international conglomerate, sees himself in that role, as the head of a government seeking to boost the kingdom’s stagnant GDP and growth performance through expansionary economics.

Pheu Thai Party nominee for Prime Minister and former business tycoon Srettha Thavisin has come out to defend a new policy put forward by the party which will give every Thai national over 16 a ฿10,000 stipend in a digital wallet from January 1st 2024 for six months if the party comes to power after the May 14th General Election.

 

The highly successful businessman also revealed that the party will make known on May 14th, election day, its lead candidate for the top job. Mr Srettha has made no secret, from the outset, that the goal of his foray into politics is to become the next Thai prime minister and not a cabinet role.

 

Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2023/04/08/srettha-thavisin-eyes-top-job-and-defends-pheu-thai-10k-wallet/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2023-04-08

 

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Well I am 60,

So for sure over 16, I think I am well qualified for the 10,000..... And I got a real good suntan and almost look Thai.......

 I even eat Somtam.........

I will vote for anybody...

I want my 10,000...

Edited April 7, 20233 yr by redwood1

2 hours ago, webfact said:

On Monday 14th, the day of the General Election, Pheu Thai’s national executive will meet to select its primary nominee to be put before parliament for election as Thailand’s next Prime Minister.

Don't they have time to do that before that date. Just ask the criminal fugitive.

Or is it possible that they want that the news on that day is about Pheu Thai, Pheu Thai and Pheu Thai?

 

I suggest they should be banned a day before the election. Then they can nominate whoever they want, and nobody cares.

Somebody well known is pulling strings....

 

????????

1 hour ago, redwood1 said:

Well I am 60,

So for sure over 16, I think I am well qualified for the 10,000..... And I got a real good suntan and almost look Thai.......

 I even eat Somtam.........

I will vote for anybody...

I want my 10,000...

Thaksin's populist policies should soften the THB which will probably help you more if you get your income from abroad.

Next he will want to reduce the top rates of taxation for the rich and wealthy  so this waste of money will be funded solely by the middle classes 

 

 

See how modern Thailand has become? No more grubby bank notes at the polling booth. Nowadays it's a Digital Wallet. Plus 4km spending radius from your registered address will keep the money in the local economy.

 

Are there any limits on what it can or can't be spent on? Such as alcohol, cigarettes or lottery tickets.

 

48 minutes ago, jonclark said:

Next he will want to reduce the top rates of taxation for the rich and wealthy  so this waste of money will be funded solely by the middle classes 

 

 

The top taxation rates are what the middle class pay...

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Don't they have time to do that before that date. Just ask the criminal fugitive.

Or is it possible that they want that the news on that day is about Pheu Thai, Pheu Thai and Pheu Thai?

 

I suggest they should be banned a day before the election. Then they can nominate whoever they want, and nobody cares.

Perhaps you have miscalculated.

If as you suggest they are banned the day before the election then a very large number of people will care very much. 

 

Even the most ardent of democracy hating neo fascists would think twice about pulling a stroke like that! Even one as committed as you surely?

 

I'd stock up on lots of cool soft drinks and roses for your favourite soldiers if I were you! Although I doubt if it would stop your favourite bus stop being torched again!

 

 

 

 

This populistic policy of giving free money clearly violates the election rules, so I expect that the Pheu Thai party will be banned before the election!

 

According to the EC, candidates must:

-Not offer, promise to offer or give away valuables or other benefits to voters

 

Edited April 8, 20233 yr by Xonax

Have been following him on social media for over a year, he has said virtually nothing and stands for nothing either as far as I can tell

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Pheu Thai Party nominee for Prime Minister and former business tycoon Srettha Thavisin has come out to defend a new policy put forward by the party which will give every Thai national over 16 a ฿10,000 stipend in a digital wallet from January 1st 2024 for six months if the party comes to power after the May 14th General Election.

Could this not be construed as vote buying en-masse?

Quote

Latest plank of the party’s economic policy aiming to boost GDP unveiled this week along with its election lineup is sure to be another vote-getter

"latest plank" I actually looked up the meaning and: 

plank
noun
1. a long, thin, flat piece of timber, used especially in building and flooring.
2. a fundamental point of a political or other program.

 

and whaddayaknow... , here I thought the author meant to write "prank"!

2 hours ago, Xonax said:

This populistic policy of giving free money clearly violates the election rules, so I expect that the Pheu Thai party will be banned before the election!

 

According to the EC, candidates must:

-Not offer, promise to offer or give away valuables or other benefits to voters

 

This is a policy not a backhander. Really doesn't matter the whole thing is bent. TIT. CORRUPT. 

Simple bribery......kill this guy's career, he's a cancer in Thai politics.

Throughout PM Prayut's tenure he has organized payout of periodic "gifts" to specified segments of the population. Appearing in person wuth necessary documentation for the "gift" seemed a requirement. These were not legislative funded actions. Each time it's claimed that as a result Prayut's special event "handouts," his popularity increased. 

Yet despite such political showmanship, income inequality increased in Thailand.

Now the PTP proposes a legislated social program as part of its political platform attendant with alleged checks and balances for accountability. 

How does PTP differ from the government's efforts to influence public support?

 

8 hours ago, jonclark said:

Next he will want to reduce the top rates of taxation for the rich and wealthy  so this waste of money will be funded solely by the middle classes 

 

 

Indeed. Appears that this particular election, and it's flurry of said candidates, is shamefully wooing the elite classes.

Even the beloved Move Forward folks are jumping on that bandwagon....in a manner of speaking.

money talks! 

9 hours ago, Xonax said:

This populistic policy of giving free money clearly violates the election rules, so I expect that the Pheu Thai party will be banned before the election!

 

According to the EC, candidates must:

-Not offer, promise to offer or give away valuables or other benefits to voters

 

But this government has been giving money away for years already, just not to the people who really need it.

Honest, it was a digital mistake. 

Edited April 9, 20233 yr by paddypower

21 hours ago, ourmanflint said:

Have been following him on social media for over a year, he has said virtually nothing and stands for nothing either as far as I can tell

I don't care if he has said virtually nothing or stands for nothing, though I would prefer Thaksins daughter for her good looks, if I'm honest, any of the average Thai people with the average Thai IQ would do me fine as the next PM, just as long as there are no soldiers in his/her government in any shape or form.

Can't wait to pick up my 10,000 baht worth of The Square Face digital currency.

On 4/8/2023 at 1:33 PM, ourmanflint said:

Have been following him on social media for over a year, he has said virtually nothing and stands for nothing either as far as I can tell

He's a big $ property devloper. One guess why he he wants to get into gov't. 

On 4/8/2023 at 11:25 AM, Xonax said:

This populistic policy of giving free money clearly violates the election rules, so I expect that the Pheu Thai party will be banned before the election!

 

According to the EC, candidates must:

-Not offer, promise to offer or give away valuables or other benefits to voters

 

Does everybody get a real wallet, will it have a nice imprint  'thaksin loves you'.

An astonishing break from tradition,  10,000 baht after we win as opposed to 200 / 300 baht before we win,

   Which will the electorate prefer, ?  A bird in the hand or 50 in the bush

Oh, dear. A rich businessman becoming the next PM of Thailand. What can go wrong? ????

 

Of course, Thaksin's daughter might be the PM. In that case, of course, it will be the same thing. A rich businessman as PM. How much say would his daughter have in important matters? 

 

Not looking good.