Thaksin Shinawatra's imminent homecoming: A risky move for Pheu Thai

[webfact]

 

Tangled up

By Tulsathit Taptim

 

It could be a Hail Mary pass in an increasingly unpredictable playing field. The scenario of imminent Thaksin Shinawatra homecoming, amplified by the man himself, can help Pheu Thai, but it can also destroy it as well. At times in politics, though, caution needs to be thrown to the wind.

 

Normally, underdog players or those staring at defeat throw a Hail Mary. Pheu Thai is neither an underdog nor losing player, as almost everyone predicts the party will emerge from the May 14 election a winner. However, a normal win will not be enough. Even a big win may not be enough if it does not meet expectations.

 

“Let me go home and raise my grandchildren,” Thaksin said very recently, keeping alive a speculation that he had created. In effect, it was a desperate throw at a desperate time. Move Forward is breathing down Pheu Thai’s neck in terms of expected numbers of parliamentary seats and its leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, has even leapfrogged Thaksin’s daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra as the most popular prime ministerial candidate in at least one opinion survey.

 

Something needs to be done, because, all of a sudden, Pheu Thai’s landslide hope appears seriously doubtful with several opinion polls giving similar worrying signs. Someone somewhere and somehow is convinced that a real possibility of Thaksin return can restore the big lead.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/tangled-up/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2023-05-06

 

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[ezzra]

What is for sure that a very interesting times in Thai politics are about to unfold, and Mr. T will do what ever he can to get back to the top.

[bignok]

Thai Jesus.

[bamnutsak]

OK.

 

Maybe don't put the whistles and clappers back in storage.

 

 

[zzaa09]

Promoting the grand return should be their next play. 

Then the pardon. 

Which would be followed by his entry back into the Thai political machine. 

 

 

Purchased five kilos of popcorn this morning. 

[watchcat]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

“Let me go home and raise my grandchildren,”

Nobody's stopping you.

Edited May 6, 2023 by watchcat

[TimeMachine]

When Thaksin was here in Thailand I didn't have a problem with him because I didn't have anything that affected me in a bad way. Even if misappropriation took place, it didn't matter, it doesn't matter. It will always happen whoever is in. And now more than ever we are more affected by individual people behind desks in organisations doing a bad job. The chance of a leader fixing that is none. Nothing really matters. Keep healthy all.

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

“Let me go home and raise my grandchildren,” Thaksin said very recently

Great idea!

Come home, go to jail, and give all your money to your grandchildren. And please don't involve them in politics if you care about them.

And if you live long enough not to die in jail then maybe you will be able to live in a decade or two together with your grandchildren.

Come home. Now. You will get free accommodation and food for years. We are waiting for you! What are you waiting for? 

[dinsdale]

17 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Great idea!

Come home, go to jail, and give all your money to your grandchildren. And please don't involve them in politics if you care about them.

And if you live long enough not to die in jail then maybe you will be able to live in a decade or two together with your grandchildren.

Come home. Now. You will get free accommodation and food for years. We are waiting for you! What are you waiting for? 

Maybe he can share a cell will Prayut and Prawit. Wack some cameras in the cell and whamo! You have a fantastic reality show. Could call it: The Fugitive, The General and Little Fatty.

Edited May 6, 2023 by dinsdale

[cjinchiangrai]

Doesn't he have outstanding warrants?

[TheFishman1]

The guy stole billions make himself very very wealthy and now he wants to get back in and his sister got caught with that race scam and who knows what else just corruption TIT

[Srikcir]

19 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Doesn't he have outstanding warrants?

"A Thai court on Monday issued an arrest warrant for fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra after he failed to turn up for a defamation case filed against him by the army."

Ref.

OCTOBER 12, 20152:07 AM UPDATED 8 YEARS AGO

"Arrest warrant issued for ex-Thai PM Thaksin over court no-show"

The Army that subsequently overthrew an elected government!?!

[Bim Smith]

Pre election gimmick surely. There is no way he will be allowed back into Thailand.

[bannork]

PT stands for Pathetic Thai, not Pheua Thai. How they need the great marketeer, authoritarian, decision maker of all in the party!

It's his party and no one else's. He even called Yingluck his clone.

He's the paymaster and decider of all.

Democracy can never grow in Thailand whilst PT exists. 

Long live MF!

 

 

 

[scorecard]

"Let me go home and raise my grandchildren,” 

 

So does he expect that on arrival in the LOS he would be a free man to go anywhere with no restrictions whatever, do whatever he wishes, comment with no restrictions.

 

Does he have any respect for the law and for past judicial processes and findings. He's a convicted fellon, found guilty without any doubt and sentenced to punishment including jail.

 

And there more findings and charges.

 

So seems that he believes he's not subject to the laws and judicial findings of Thailand. This is just what Thailand doesn't need!!!

 

Well proven he's and his cronies are very corrupt. Does anybody seriously believe he's totally/permenantly reformed?

 

I don't!

 

[Ironmike]

I think they should let him back into Thailand and let him see his grand kids right after he has finished his 20 years to life sentence whilst there at it go round up red bull baby and lock him up too

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

It could be a Hail Mary pass in an increasingly unpredictable playing field. The scenario of imminent Thaksin Shinawatra homecoming,

This is all getting rather tedious...

[kingstonkid]

What I am waiting for is the PT to get in power but NOT be able to pay the 10.000 baht because no one will join with them to make it happen.

 

Same with the 25K for anyone with a BA.

 

There is no way the senate is going to vote a Thaksin in as PM.  

 

So it is going to be who will the senate allow 

 

Unless Prawit or Prayut get a large win there is no way they will have a chance.

 

We are not gong to see a Thai government until mid June at earliest

[Redhawk]

Why not, there are worse than him! Being on the run for years, getting old, almost all want to come home! 

[soalbundy]

16 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

What I am waiting for is the PT to get in power but NOT be able to pay the 10.000 baht because no one will join with them to make it happen.

 

Same with the 25K for anyone with a BA.

 

There is no way the senate is going to vote a Thaksin in as PM.  

 

So it is going to be who will the senate allow 

 

Unless Prawit or Prayut get a large win there is no way they will have a chance.

 

We are not gong to see a Thai government until mid June at earliest

regarding your last sentence ;- Like, that matters?

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, bannork said:

PT stands for Pathetic Thai, not Pheua Thai. How they need the great marketeer, authoritarian, decision maker of all in the party!

It's his party and no one else's. He even called Yingluck his clone.

He's the paymaster and decider of all.

Democracy can never grow in Thailand whilst PT exists. 

Long live MF!

 

 

 

Long live MF!!!

[DjSilver]

I think I speak for most people, no matter Thai or expats, that we would rather have Thaksin as Prime Minister than Prayut. However, Thanathorn would would have been the best Prime Minister for Thailand. Sad, that Prayut is controlling the courts in Thailand.

[NoshowJones]

1 hour ago, TheFishman1 said:

The guy stole billions make himself very very wealthy and now he wants to get back in and his sister got caught with that race scam and who knows what else just corruption TIT

Who made the most money so far, Thaksin or the unelected caretaker PM? If I said, I would only be guessing. One is an elected politician, the other is a soldier with a soldiers mentality.

[zzaa09]

5 hours ago, watchcat said:

Nobody's stopping you.

Well.....actually there is.

An illegally placed and operating Junta that designed his and his sister's forced exiles is preventing his [their] return. 

The same illegal and immoral circle that dreamt up charges [whether guilty or not, doesn't stand as a legal writ] of reputed distinction.....

[zzaa09]

5 minutes ago, DjSilver said:

I think I speak for most people, no matter Thai or expats, that we would rather have Thaksin as Prime Minister than Prayut. However, Thanathorn would would have been the best Prime Minister for Thailand. Sad, that Prayut is controlling the courts in Thailand.

Nothing about the military-controlled dictatorship is democratically in any form. 

Agree regarding Khun Thanathorn. 

Wondering if the new coalition would ever consider lifting his ban from political participation........

[zzaa09]

6 minutes ago, NoshowJones said:

Who made the most money so far, Thaksin or the unelected caretaker PM? If I said, I would only be guessing. One is an elected politician, the other is a soldier with a soldiers mentality.

Indeed.

Might be anyone's guess as to which one is the most crooked.....

[Red Forever]

When I saw the subject I knew who would reply with their accustomed venom and I wasn't disappointed.

For what it's worth; Thaksin was already a very wealthy businessman before entering politics so didn't need to rob the Thai people.

[zzaa09]

1 hour ago, bannork said:

PT stands for Pathetic Thai, not Pheua Thai. How they need the great marketeer, authoritarian, decision maker of all in the party!

It's his party and no one else's. He even called Yingluck his clone.

He's the paymaster and decider of all.

Democracy can never grow in Thailand whilst PT exists. 

Long live MF!

 

 

 

Seconded and thirded.....!!

????

[Eric Loh]

5 minutes ago, zzaa09 said:

Indeed.

Might be anyone's guess as to which one is the most crooked.....

I guess we never know since military leaders and their political allies rarely see a day in court. The investigative agencies and the courts tend to give them a wide berth. 

[NoshowJones]

1 minute ago, zzaa09 said:

Indeed.

Might be anyone's guess as to which one is the most crooked.....

I would think that as an elected senior politician it would be Thaksin, but the unelected soldier would only have a soldiers brains.