Shinawatra Dynasty Retakes Power Amidst Uncertainty in Thailand

[webfact]

Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, left and his daughter and newly elected Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra arrive before the royal endorsement ceremony appointing Paetongtarn as Thailand's new prime minister at Pheu Thai party headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

 

After weeks of uncertainty, Paetongtarn Shinawatra has ascended to Thailand's prime ministership, inheriting an office previously held by her ousted predecessor Srettha Thavisin. At 37, she represents the latest chapter in the Shinawatra political saga, but questions loom over her tenure’s longevity.

 

On Sunday, following a court ruling that disqualified real estate tycoon Srettha from office due to an ethics probe, Paetongtarn was formally sworn in as Thailand's 31st prime minister. Her parliamentary endorsement came despite her limited political experience and without any prior electoral victory. Speaking to the press, she assured the public that she intends to carve out her own path.

 

Paetongtarn is the daughter of Thaksin Shinawatra, Thailand's embattled former prime minister who has remained a figure of division since his initial landslide election win in 2001. Thaksin, now 75 and a prominent billionaire, experienced two ousters and a 15-year exile, returning to Thailand last year under mysterious circumstances that hinted at a power-sharing deal with the royalist factions, reported VOA News.

 

Experts like Verapat Pariyawong, who teaches Thai law and politics at SOAS in London, observe that Thaksin's influence still lingers. "Thaksin is very much involved behind the scenes," said Pariyawong, highlighting the complexities Paetongtarn will face in managing her father's enduring legacy and political heft.

 

When Thaksin's Pheu Thai party lost to the pro-democracy Move Forward Party (MFP) in the 2023 election, it not only marked an electoral defeat but a shift in Thailand's political landscape. Move Forward has since been dissolved, rebranding as the People's Party with an eye on the 2027 elections, leaving Pheu Thai vying for political dominance.

 

In her inaugural address, Paetongtarn emphasized her commitment to transforming Thailand into a land of opportunity. Yet, the challenges appear daunting. The nation's economy is sluggish, household debt is at an all-time high, and a controversial $14 billion digital cash stimulus now hangs in the balance.

 

Critics argue that the Shinawatra brand has lost its allure, with populist policies failing to deliver long-term prosperity. Aat Pisanwanich, an independent economic expert, contends that "populist policies have kept people poor and indebted." Paetongtarn's grasp on economic issues remains under scrutiny, and internal political dynamics may pose further risks.

 

Despite these challenges, the Shinawatra family's political resilience can't be discounted. Analyst Sirote Klampaiboon suggests that even if Paetongtarn faces political turbulence, the dynasty's influence is far from over. "The Shinawatras will continue to be a formidable force in Thai politics," he concludes.

 

In this climate of political volatility, Paetongtarn’s premiership represents both a continuation and a test of the Shinawatra legacy in Thailand.

 

-- 2024-08-21

 

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[ozz1]

It was all planned all along thanks to the higher authorities don't care what the poor people think just go ahead with the plan

[dinsdale]

Shinawatra Dynasty Retakes Power Amidst Uncertainty in Thailand

Thaksin Retakes Power Amidst Uncertainty in Thailand

[RotBenz8888]

Is the military in on this? 

[soalbundy]

Every government everywhere has to react to internal and external forces, the problems are the same for whoever is in power and the solutions have a tightly constrained path which usually means it doesn't matter who is in government, since the technocrats, the paid experts, provide the logical solutions which government figures follow (if they are wise enough), cabinet ministers and PM's may have university degrees but they aren't experts at anything except politics. Whether the cat is black or white doesn't matter, as long as they catch mice. Governments are like extras in a film, the real story unfolds in civil service and advisors offices. 

[Will B Good]

 

Must get my glasses. Read that as......... Shinawatra dysentery .....thought we had a new pandemic coming

[Artisi]

Look s like a load of dysentery coming. 

[garygooner]

Nobody would be surprised to see more demonstrations on the streets again in the future, followed by a possible military coup.  

[couchpotato]

2 minutes ago, garygooner said:

Nobody would be surprised to see more demonstrations on the streets again in the future, followed by a possible military coup.  

Rubbish...won't happen.

[watchcat]

3 hours ago, RotBenz8888 said:

Is the military in on this? 

 

Not yet...

 

[garygooner]

24 minutes ago, couchpotato said:

Rubbish...won't happen.

How can you be so sure?

I've seen many over the decades. 

[couchpotato]

16 minutes ago, garygooner said:

How can you be so sure?

I've seen many over the decades. 

Me also.

Different political circumstances these days.

[Gottfrid]

Nothing has changed. He rules Thailand from Dubai as well.

[couchpotato]

3 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Nothing has changed. He rules Thailand from Dubai as well.

"ruled"

[Nickcage49]

But for how long? 

[Will B Good]

Just now, Nickcage49 said:

But for how long? 

 

 

There must be a few Generals itching to ...........

[TheFishman1]

So her father runs away because he stole a bunch of money comes back 15 years later and he’s a hero no prison her aunt escapes to the day before sentencing living overseas. The good life should be back soon so she has two good examples that will show her how to be the most corrupt p.m. ever to exist in this country and by the way, whatever happened with the Red Bull kid. TIT

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

At 37, she represents the latest chapter in the Shinawatra political saga, but questions loom over her tenure’s longevity.

More degrees than a thermometer and no experience.... 

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, RotBenz8888 said:

Is the military in on this? 

Absolutely.. as long as both sides get what they want.

[Gottfrid]

30 minutes ago, couchpotato said:

"ruled"

Right, but he might go back 😉 

[TooPoopedToPop]

The results of a legitimate election were overturned to allow this corrupt clan to regain power.

It is obvious who the powerbrokers were who engineered this obscene farce.

 

[BangkokReady]

They saw their chance and took it.  Can't really fault them for it.  🤷‍♂️

[Flory]

I imagine the courts will be playing whack-a-mole with legal PM candidates until only the uncles are left and one of them must be selected.

[john donson]

did she do anything in her life for the country to get those little spicks on her chest...

[Hunz Kittisak]

21 hours ago, TooPoopedToPop said:

The results of a legitimate election were overturned to allow this corrupt clan to regain power.

It is obvious who the powerbrokers were who engineered this obscene farce.

 

How was it overturned? MFP couldn’t form the government. They couldn’t even get any partners for a coalition. 
This is how democracy works 

[CMHomeboy78]

On 8/21/2024 at 1:43 PM, TooPoopedToPop said:

The results of a legitimate election were overturned to allow this corrupt clan to regain power.

It is obvious who the powerbrokers were who engineered this obscene farce.

 

Spot on.

For years now Shinawatra apologists have been excusing the clan's blatant acts of criminality by saying "The Thai people overwhelmingly support them and vote them into office every chance they get".

Not anymore.

Now the big question is whether or not the people have the cojones to effectively put an end to this kleptocracy and install the winners of the last election.

I wouldn't bet on it.

 

[Hunz Kittisak]

18 hours ago, CMHomeboy78 said:

Spot on.

For years now Shinawatra apologists have been excusing the clan's blatant acts of criminality by saying "The Thai people overwhelmingly support them and vote them into office every chance they get".

Not anymore.

Now the big question is whether or not the people have the cojones to effectively put an end to this kleptocracy and install the winners of the last election.

I wouldn't bet on it.

 

There were no winners in the last elections

The Thai system of elections defines a winner as the party that win more votes/seats than all the other parties combined. An example of this is how the Thai Rak Thai party won both the 2001 and 2005 elections 

 

[MikeandDow]

9 hours ago, Hunz Kittisak said:

There were no winners in the last elections

The Thai system of elections defines a winner as the party that win more votes/seats than all the other parties combined. An example of this is how the Thai Rak Thai party won both the 2001 and 2005 elections 

 

Read the news the Polls are saying the people don't want Thaskin any where near government