FILE - Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, center, arrives at Don Muang airport in Bangkok, Thailand, on Aug. 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File)

 

Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra made his first public appearance post-pardon, quashing rumours of political agreements with rivals. Addressing over 1,400 attendees in Bangkok, he asserted, “There is no deal; no one dares do a deal with me.”

 

Thaksin's dramatic return last year saw an eight-year jail sentence, commuted to one year and culminating in his recent pardon. He avoided prison, staying in hospital and swiftly receiving parole.

 

In his speech, Thaksin confidently stated that Thailand’s economic woes would not worsen, highlighting the capabilities of the current Pheu Thai government, headed by his daughter, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

 

He vigorously defended the party’s 450-billion-baht digital wallet scheme aimed at economic revitalisation. “We need to stimulate the economy as our country has grown slowly for a long time,” he emphasized, stressing the urgency, reported Bangkok Post.

 

The forum, hosted by a local media group, offered Thaksin a platform for economic discourse, including cautionary suggestions of protectionism against low-cost Chinese imports to ensure fair competition. “We don’t dislike Chinese products, but we must find equality in competition,” he noted.

 

Thaksin’s vision for addressing long-term economic issues also included tackling Thailand’s significant household and public debt. He advocated for restructuring initiatives and fostering collaboration between the government and the Bank of Thailand. “Thailand and its people are trapped in debt,” he explained, urging comprehensive action led by the finance ministry.

 

In discussing potential economic policies, Thaksin emphasized the need for small protectionist measures to safeguard domestic industries without hindering international trade. His remarks reflect broader regional concerns, pushing for balanced free trade and local economic stability.

 

Despite his significant influence, Thaksin clarified he seeks no political role. His daughter Paetongtarn faces the challenge of rejuvenating the economy amidst high household debt, sluggish exports, and rising living costs. As she finalizes her cabinet, Thaksin’s legacy and strategic insights are pivotal to Thailand’s political and economic future.

 

-- 2024-08-23

 

 

Get the ASEAN NOW daily NEWSLETTER - Click HERE to subscribe

10 minutes ago, webfact said:

There is no deal; no one dares do a deal with me.

 

There is One.

Thaksin Shinawatra: "No political agreement was made to secure my return".

 

Technically no...

Edited August 23, 20241 yr by herfiehandbag
Second thoughts.

Thaksin; Floating Minister, he oversees everything! 

Puppetmaster !

1 hour ago, webfact said:

In his speech, Thaksin confidently stated that Thailand’s economic woes would not worsen, highlighting the capabilities of the current Pheu Thai government, headed by his daughter, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

 

He vigorously defended the party’s 450-billion-baht digital wallet scheme aimed at economic revitalisation. “We need to stimulate the economy as our country has grown slowly for a long time,” he emphasized, stressing the urgency, reported Bangkok Post.

 

The forum, hosted by a local media group, offered Thaksin a platform for economic discourse, including cautionary suggestions of protectionism against low-cost Chinese imports to ensure fair competition. “We don’t dislike Chinese products, but we must find equality in competition,” he noted.

 

Thaksin’s vision for addressing long-term economic issues also included tackling Thailand’s significant household and public debt. He advocated for restructuring initiatives and fostering collaboration between the government and the Bank of Thailand. “Thailand and its people are trapped in debt,” he explained, urging comprehensive action led by the finance ministry.

 

In discussing potential economic policies, Thaksin emphasized the need for small protectionist measures to safeguard domestic industries without hindering international trade. His remarks reflect broader regional concerns, pushing for balanced free trade and local economic stability.

 

Despite his significant influence, Thaksin clarified he seeks no political role. His daughter Paetongtarn faces the challenge of rejuvenating the economy amidst high household debt, sluggish exports, and rising living costs. As she finalizes her cabinet, Thaksin’s legacy and strategic insights are pivotal to Thailand’s political and economic future.

 

Doesn't this speech mean that he is involved in polititics?

Didn't he tell us all that he wants to take care of his grandchildren?

And wasn't he a sick man who needed VVIP treatment while he was supposedly in prison?

Sure, we believe anything he tells us... 

The gentleman doth protest too much, me thinks.

Taksin 'Pinocchio' Shinawatra

Well Tony could have come back at any time if he was not waiting for all the dominos to get in line...And for the Junta to be out of power....

 

Boy that nose is really growing....

hahahahahahaha and cows fly, everything out of his mouth is total BS, all he cares about ios how much he can make out of ripping off Thailand

I believe him. There’s no need for any agreement, he just need the endorsement of The One. 
It’s good to see Khun Thaksin back in the saddle. Hope his rivals get what’s 

coming for running the country to the ground in his absence. 

What a farce. 

🤥

My partner, an avid fan of Thaksin watched his speech for an hour and a half last night. She said all the main players in Thailands businesses where in the audience.

if you think there was no political deal to secure Thaksins jail free return you are living in cloud cuckoo land

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra made his first public appearance post-pardon, quashing rumours of political agreements with rivals. Addressing over 1,400 attendees in Bangkok, he asserted, “There is no deal; no one dares do a deal with me.”

Say's the deal maker.

There was no political deal. It was purely financial.

There are likely less than 20 people in Thailand who believe his lies and his nonsense, even his supporters likely laugh at a statement like this. Of course there was an agreement made, you never spent a day in jail, how gullible and how naive do you think we are? 

 

When you sell your soul, and when you sell out your party and your people, that is considered a political agreement. 

Ah-huh. 

 

5 hours ago, CharlieH said:

Puppetmaster !

Not that good at it though. He fled to Dubai having upset the hierarchy in Bangkok, who regard him as an upstart, to the point at which he was charged with several crimes, a major one of which is still outstanding. He appears to be incapable of going about his business quietly. This could yet see him on his way back to Dubai, with the current PM in tow.

Well, he ripped off Thailand for billions left the country 15 years come back. He’s now a hero. What’s next his sister will come back get a total parole and his daughter with absolutely no experience is now the Prime Minister. Something seems wrong with this scenario by the way, why don’t talk about the Red Bull kid, TIT 

There is just no way that his nose should not be at least two foot long

Boy I wish I had of read this this morning. Starting the day off rolling around the floor laughing is always a good way to start the day.

9 minutes ago, natway09 said:

There is just no way that his nose should not be at least two foot long

 

don't forget, he has the best medical care, which brought him back from being near death to a fit senior ...

if his nose grows every night due to his endless lies, he has enough money and doctors who can work miracles

to reduce his nose to its normal size ... 

Well, let's see now.

 

What he said:

 

1. He kept on bleating from abroad about how he was ageing, and he desperately wanted to be with his grandchildren.

2. He said he wanted to remain outside politics, and he was too old to go back into politics.

3. He said he was in ill health and wanted to be with his family.

 

What happened:

 

4. He returned to Thailand and was met like a VIP from his private jet.

5. He was whisked off to Klong Prem, where he made a flying visit to the Medical corrections' hospital, before it was deemed they were too ill-equipped to deal with him, and he was removed by helicopter to the Police hospital, where he took over a suite of rooms.

6. An appeal to the King was made, something that on average takes 3/4 years for a prisoner. He managed it in two weeks.

7. He had various visitors from government and family at any time of the day at the Police hospital.

8. He remained in the comfort of the Police hospital, (nobody knows if he was actually there as reporters and journalists and the public were not allowed to the floor where he was supposedly housed) until he was given permission to be at home under house arrest, whilst awaiting the King's amnesty on HM King's birthday.

9. He was photographed in a neck brace, in his swimming pool, and walking stick etc, all which magically disappeared after the Amnesty.

10. Various MPs and government ministers were seen entering and exiting his house.

11. He held a number of dinner get-togethers for high ranking officials.

12. Despite his claims of illness, he looked fine at Hun Sen's birthday party on August 5th, not a neck brace in sight.

13. He is now holding rallies and speeches, not bad for an ill man who wants to stay out of politics.

14. Conveniently, Srettha was found to have seriously breached the ethics code by appointing Thaksin's family lawyer to a cabinet position, and then somebody reported him, I wonder who?

15. His inexperienced daughter is now ensconced as the new PM

 

And he is trying to make the public believe a deal wasn't pre-arranged and done with the military, the courts and others up the chain of command, who feared a group more than Thaksin, the Move Forward Party, who threatened to upset the status quo and drag Thailand into democracy and the 21st century.

 

Pull the other one!

8 hours ago, webfact said:

“There is no deal; no one dares do a deal with me.”

The "no one dares"-part, could that be because nobody trust him...

5 hours ago, Hunz Kittisak said:

I believe him. There’s no need for any agreement, he just need the endorsement of The One. 
It’s good to see Khun Thaksin back in the saddle. Hope his rivals get what’s 

coming for running the country to the ground in his absence. 

 

You think those rivals were not also similarly "endorsed"?

 

They would not have been able to get within a 1000 miles of power if they had not been so.

 

Everyone who voted MF, and many who voted for PT, know exactly who, why and what is to blame for the majority of Thai people being "run into the ground"......year on year, decade upon decade, generation upon generation.

 

 

Edited August 23, 20241 yr by Enoon

4 hours ago, jippytum said:

if you think there was no political deal to secure Thaksins jail free return you are living in cloud cuckoo land

Just plain old cash.

No political agreement was made to secure my return
I've heard lots of political BS, but this one is absolutely unique. 🤔