Thaksin Tells Pheu Thai to Abandon Digital Wallet Plan

[webfact]

FILE - Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File)

 

Pheu Thai Party patriarch Thaksin Shinawatra has reportedly instructed the ruling party to drop its digital wallet flagship policy. This direction came just hours after the Constitutional Court ousted Thailand's PM Srettha Thavisin from his position as prime minister.

 

On Wednesday evening, during a meeting at his Chan Song Lar residence with key party members, Thaksin urged his daughter, Pheu Thai leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra, to halt the 450-billion-baht scheme for digital handouts of 10,000 baht. With the economy on shaky ground, he argued the timing was inappropriate for such an extensive expenditure, according to party sources.

 

The digital wallet scheme, designed to spur spending, has drawn considerable criticism due to its hefty price tag. Initially estimated at 500 billion baht, the project’s cost was later trimmed to 450 billion, to be funded over two fiscal years—2024 and 2025, reported The Nation.

 

Previously, Caretaker Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat was adamant that the scheme would proceed regardless of Srettha's political fate. However, his stance shifted post-meeting at Thaksin's residence. On Thursday, Julapun acknowledged that the scheme's continuation now depended on the new prime minister and Cabinet’s decisions.

 

Speaking to reporters at Parliament, he stated: "When a new prime minister is elected and forms the new Cabinet, the government will need to present its policies to Parliament again. We must respect the incoming PM's choices on government policies."

 

Julapun noted that Pheu Thai planned to discuss the digital wallet scheme with its coalition partners during Cabinet formation negotiations. Each partner's policies would be reviewed, making it uncertain which policies would be adopted.

 

In the interim, subcommittees responsible for implementing the digital wallet scheme would continue holding meetings until the new Cabinet reached a decision. The Finance Ministry’s permanent secretary, Lawan Saengsanit, would lead these meetings on Julapun's behalf.

 

Though the project's future remains unclear, it's evident the party is bracing for significant policy shifts in the wake of Srettha's removal.

 

-- 2024-08-16

 

- Cigna offers a variety of health insurance plans designed to meet the minimum requirement for medical treatment coverage, with benefits reaching up to THB 3 million. These plans are tailored to provide comprehensive healthcare solutions for expatriates, ensuring peace of mind and access to quality medical services. To explore the full range of Cigna's expat health insurance options and find a plan that suits your needs, click here for more information.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

[JoePai]

Well that's put the kibosh on it - now his majesty Toxin has commanded it to be shut down

[brianthainess]

Oh dear, that will not be popular, I wonder if his daughter will carry out daddy's wishes, as that will make her, not liked and not just by her party, but buy all of those qualified recipients, now what ? demonstrations and riots again ? the Generals will be planning the next Coup, if they haven't already. Oh dear here we go around again.

[TheAppletons]

Wow, this just gets better and better.

 

Just blatantly thumbing their noses at the Thai populatiion.

[mfd101]

Surprise surprise.

 

More votes to PP next time.

[Pouatchee]

isnt one of taks_i_parole conditions not to dabble in politics?

[motdaeng]

so toni stabbed his own party in the back ... an interesting development ...

[ikke1959]

The first proof that Thaksin will have the PM post and that his daughter, when elected will be his voice.. I am wondering if that is constitutional and can be done with his parole

[MikeandDow]

This is the End of the PT party  Thai People have a long memory come voting time

[John Drake]

Or:

 

"Billions for me. Nothing for you. Not even an electricity discount."

[lordgrinz]

B450 Billion would do a lot more good being spent on education, especially in poor areas. 

[lordgrinz]

13 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

This is the End of the PT party  Thai People have a long memory come voting time

 

It will surely lower the PT party poll numbers, though they are as close to 0% as they can get, which leaves me scratching my head on what Thaksin's endgame is here.

[MikeandDow]

1 minute ago, lordgrinz said:

 

It will surely lower the PT party poll numbers, though they are as close to 0% as they can get, which leaves me scratching my head on what Thaksin's endgame is here.

No end game !!!  He is a Typical Thai No foresight only live for the present and only think of themself 

[John Drake]

4 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

B450 Billion would do a lot more good being spent on education, especially in poor areas. 

 

Yes, that is a good point. Also medicine and that medical care which is otherwise delayed due to waiting periods.

[John Drake]

4 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

 

It will surely lower the PT party poll numbers, though they are as close to 0% as they can get, which leaves me scratching my head on what Thaksin's endgame is here.

 

Poll numbers only matter if there is an election.

[mokwit]

Convenient let out. Sorry, but that THB10,000 we promised so you'd vote for us is no more (probably too many gravel and construction contracts to pay for).

[marin]

1 minute ago, John Drake said:

Poll numbers only matter if there is an election.

Not quite JD. Public discontent is high and Taksin has lost his base in Isaan. 

[connda]

You know - really - everyone who put up an election posters promising to use the funds out of the Thai Treasury to "give (enter promise amount of THB) to the voters if their they should win" should all be kicked out of office by the EC and the courts.

I should have taken picture of that fiasco of election posters because they were the ultilmate farce.  And that practice should be absolutely illegal. 
It IS Vote Buying - just using the tax payer funds from the Thai Treasury.  So guess what farangs - with the new tax rules - you'll be paying the Thai public to vote for the candidate who promises to pay-out Thai public funds to the public using your money.  And other then being a Thai Tax Resident, you enjoy none of the benefits of a Thai citizen. 

Hell of a deal - huh?

Actually I don't want to see that 10K per person paid out at all.  For a couple of reasons.  First - it is highly inflationary.  Second - it's based on a pack of lies, just as Khun Tony has just pointed out.  "Vote For (Enter Party Name/Candidate Name) and we will empty the Thai Treasury into your pockets! (After the election)  HA HA HA, JUST KIDDING - NOT!  Sucks to be you pathetic cretins, 'eh commoners." 

So - think that the Thai electorate will fall for that ploy again?  Of course they will - human greed and the fact that average people are a dense as a box of concrete.

[Mason45]

Let's be serious and not think like gullible Thais. Was this 10,000 baht hand out ever going to happen? I told my missus to believe it when you receive it.

[mfd101]

6 minutes ago, connda said:

So - think that the Thai electorate will fall for that ploy again?  Of course they will - human greed and the fact that average people are a dense as a box of concrete.

The peasants won't forget. They'll be solidly voting PP next time.

[lordgrinz]

10 minutes ago, John Drake said:

 

Yes, that is a good point. Also medicine and that medical care which is otherwise delayed due to waiting periods.

 

In order to become a "Hub" of anything, they are going to need to increase the education of the people first, which so far is lacking in all respects. It really is the first step, and until they start making huge investments in the education of the people, they will be left in the rearview mirror of their neighbors. A positive aspect of that would be the inevitable increase in highly educated people who would stop voting for corrupt dinosaurs.

[petermik]

Just now, lordgrinz said:

 

 A positive aspect of that would be the inevitable increase in highly educated people who would stop voting for corrupt dinosaurs.

This will take a longer time than yours and mines lifetime put together.........

[mokwit]

8 minutes ago, Mason45 said:

Let's be serious and not think like gullible Thais. Was this 10,000 baht hand out ever going to happen? I told my missus to believe it when you receive it.

Well, the "1 million baht for every village" partly manifested as contracts for concreting and tarmacing of muu baan roads.

[Will B Good]

 

 

Who voted him into power......??

 

Amazing to be fair......from a criminal facing an eight year stretch.....to receiving a special certificate proving his innocence to then running the country......only in Thailand

[lordgrinz]

Just now, petermik said:

This will take a longer time than yours and mines lifetime put together.........

 

Yup, I told my wife that after MFP was kicked to the curb. I told her if they won, we might have seen some positive changes in our lifetime (10-20yrs), because obviously nothing was going to drastically change overnight. But with the way things are right now? There isn't a chance in Hell of things getting better for maybe 30 years or more, it's almost hopeless. Unless the Thai people rise up and throw out the dictators and Elites, they will be stuck with their fate.

[MikeandDow]

16 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

 

Yup, I told my wife that after MFP was kicked to the curb. I told her if they won, we might have seen some positive changes in our lifetime (10-20yrs), because obviously nothing was going to drastically change overnight. But with the way things are right now? There isn't a chance in Hell of things getting better for maybe 30 years or more, it's almost hopeless. Unless the Thai people rise up and throw out the dictators and Elites, they will be stuck with their fate.

"Thai people rise up" Never happen !!!!!!

[lordgrinz]

2 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

"Thai people rise up" Never happen !!!!!!

 

Sadly, I agree. I have more respect for the people fighting the Junta in Myanmar, at least they are willing put their lives on the line for what they believe in. Thai people are the ultimate sheep, they keep getting kicked in the nuts, and they continue to wai and respect their oppressors.

[MikeandDow]

4 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

 

Sadly, I agree. I have more respect for the people fighting the Junta in Myanmar, at least they are willing put their lives on the line for what they believe in. Thai people are the ultimate sheep, they keep getting kicked in the nuts, and they continue to wai and respect their oppressors.

Totally agree  The Thai's deserve what they get

[mancub]

1 hour ago, John Drake said:

 

Poll numbers only matter if there is an election.

Not even then !

[Kerryd]

The "peasants" (the poorest demographic in the country) will vote for whoever pays them the most.

That's how Thaksin got into power in the first place. It was widely "rumoured" that the "poor people" in the rural areas were told they'd get 100 baht if they voted for him.

Gee, take a guess who won the election in a landslide ?

And remember the "30 baht healthcare" scam ? People flocked to him because they thought they were getting "healthcare" for 30 baht when all they really got was being able to wait in huge lines, to see overworked doctors that graduated at the bottom of their classes, who would give them a diagnosis or prescription.
And that was it.

(A lot of Thais I talked to said it was easier, cheaper and quicker to just go to the pharmacy like they'd been doing before.)

But those two things got Thaksin the support of the "red shirts" who were mostly made up of the poorest, least educated segment of society.

Despite Thaksin himself being a HiSo member of society like most of the top "yellow shirt" supporters.

So you can imagine that whoever offers that "demographic" the best deal will get most of the votes, regardless if it's a criminal who fled the country to avoid going to prison, or the criminal's sister who fled the country to avoid going to prison, or the criminal's daughter who will no doubt do exactly what her father tells her to do.