Politics Thaksin Plays Power Card to Keep Paetongtarn in Place

[OldBird]

"until the crucial 2026 government budget bill gets its final nod in August." I wonder how much more money this crooked family is going to steal this time from the Thai people? 

[PattayaPete]

Born Hun Bunal,[c] he changed his name to Hun Sen in 1972, two years after joining the Khmer Rouge as a soldier. He fought for the Khmer Rouge in the Cambodian Civil War and was a battalion commander in Democratic Kampuchea until defecting in 1977 and fighting alongside Vietnamese forces in the Cambodian–Vietnamese War.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hun_Sen#:~:text=Born Hun Bunal%2C he changed,in the Cambodian–Vietnamese War.

[spidermike007]

23 hours ago, davb said:

What does "ultra-conservative" mean?

Totally against anything that even resembles reform or forward progress. They represent the status quo and will do anything to protect the elite. 

[spidermike007]

This is of course a total insult to the Thai people but they're kind of used to being put in a very subservient position, and never considered when it comes to leadership. The Toxin family needs to go, everybody knows it and it's just a matter of time, be rid of the dinosaurs. 

 

 

[sammieuk1]

No point having elections here is there or even buying votes anymore it's the Tony baloney show 🤔

 

[ujayujay]

Paetongtarn can no longer be held, there are too many compromising images in circulation

[davb]

16 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

This is of course a total insult to the Thai people but they're kind of used to being put in a very subservient position, 

 

This is especially sad to see in the men.

[Caldera]

With Thaksin meddling left, right and center pretty much out in the open for all to see, you can almost see the strings between him and his puppet. Dangerous. 

[billd766]

23 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

Thaksin demands this, Thaksin demands that, Thaksin plays Power Card.......Exactly who is running the government?

Does it really matter that much to you?

 

It makes no difference to me, or most farangs as we have no vote or voice in Thailand, and can do little to change any outcome in our home countries.

[GarryP]

3 hours ago, marin said:

Right here is what Taksin is terrified, literally terrified of. Smart people and the youth. The ones who dont follow mainstream old style news and want change. They have put up with having two elections stolen. Look at this poll from social media, not legacy news, Anyone can figure out the translation. Its time....

 

 

Not something he needs to worry about. If Prachachon wins the next election, they'll probably be either disbanded through Thai lawfare or there'll be another coup. The military wouldn't accept them. However, perhaps the military's support by the general public is continuing to decline so they would need to tread very carefully.

 

It would be nice if Tacky effed off back overseas though, never to be heard from again, divisive tvvat that he is. 

[marin]

2 minutes ago, GarryP said:

Not something he needs to worry about. If Prachachon wins the next election, they'll probably be either disbanded through Thai lawfare or there'll be another coup. The military wouldn't accept them. However, perhaps the military's support by the general public is continuing to decline so they would need to tread very carefully.

Denied twice and accepted it in true Thai style. With those numbers and basically one party rule the military would have no choice but to fall in line. You might be surprised at how different the officers who are 35-45 years old versus the "old guard". A lot of support for the Peoples Party. 

[lordgrinz]

2 minutes ago, billd766 said:

Does it really matter that much to you?

 

It makes no difference to me, or most farangs as we have no vote or voice in Thailand, and can do little to change any outcome in our home countries.

 

Nonsense, some of us do as the Thaksin clan, we vote by proxy (by wife, and in the future my daughter) 🤪

[billd766]

18 hours ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

I think many posters and the media are focusing too hard on one person - the real culprits are those behind that one man and his daughter.  Thaksin 'represents' the uber wealthy Chinese families that dominate Thailand with regards to political, business, industrial and government operations.  Han Sen was the Dictator in charge of Cambodia for decades and is now the Senate Head - he is a member of the uber wealthy Chinese ethnic families that also do the same in Cambodia.  He is like an 'Uncle' to the current PM in more than name - he is a very close to Thaksin and has been for decades.  That is who the anger and distain should be pointing - the wealthy Chinese families that run Thailand (and Cambodia) - not to one man who they can and will replace as and when they need - just like they did with Srettha.

 

Whoever was the staffer in Cambodia that leaked that phone call will never be found.  IMO they are already feeding the fish deep down in the Gulf of Thailand. 

But it is easier to point the finger at Thaksin.

[crazykopite]

How does this guy get away with all this wheeling and dealing !

[Cornish Pasty]

9 minutes ago, crazykopite said:

How does this guy get away with all this wheeling and dealing !

theres’s this thing called money, not sure if you have heard of it.

 

they say it talks in thailand.

 

mark.

[kingstonkid]

21 hours ago, bannork said:

Do some research on why a man who was the arch enemy of the conservative elite in Thailand was allowed back. It may explain his influence.

 

 

 

Thaksin was allowed back only because the rich elite were afraid of the MFP.  The PTP Thaksin saw an opening, so they wooed them with false promises and beads, and the Elite bought it as the best of a bad situation.

 

They also knew that when Thaksin reverted to his old ways, they could remove him and it would give them time to try to revive their standing in the country for the military and themselves.

 

The time has come to remove him, not because of him so much, but the naivete of his daughter and her showing that she can not lead or be taken seriously.

[billd766]

17 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

 

Nonsense, some of us do as the Thaksin clan, we vote by proxy (by wife, and in the future my daughter) 🤪

Do you really think that changes anything?

 

I also have a Thai wife and my 20 year old Thai son is of voting age. I have no idea which way they vote nor would I try to influence them. By the same reasoning. they do not try to influence my vote in my home country.

 

They are both big enough and old enough to make their own decisions on how they will vote without me.

 

They know far more than I do about Thai politics.

[proton]

 

[motdaeng]

29 minutes ago, billd766 said:

But it is easier to point the finger at Thaksin.

 

it seems like you're still in defense mode for your beloved teflon toni ... 

 

[Mavideol]

wasn't he sentenced and not be allowed to be involved in politics, what is the police doing, why is walking around free, how does Thailand expected to be respected in the international stages, what type credibility does Thailand has

[Artisi]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

This is of course a total insult to the Thai people but they're kind of used to being put in a very subservient position, and never considered when it comes to leadership. The Toxin family needs to go, everybody knows it and it's just a matter of time, be rid of the dinosaurs. 

 

 

The meteor is surely on its way and will hit these dinosaurs at some time in the future, the sooner the better. 

[GarryP]

1 hour ago, marin said:

Denied twice and accepted it in true Thai style. With those numbers and basically one party rule the military would have no choice but to fall in line. You might be surprised at how different the officers who are 35-45 years old versus the "old guard". A lot of support for the Peoples Party. 

I hope you are right that the mind set of the newer generals is very different to the old guard. But don't forget who the military is beholden to (and I do not mean the people). 

[ronnie50]

5 hours ago, JAG said:

Popular support.

 

Less than he had before the rise of PPP or whatever they are called now, but still massively more than the various parties which make up the yellow underpants squad!

 

There is another source of support of course - that is why he came back.

 

It is universally accepted that he, and his regimes were corrupt, but the fact (common knowledge) that he is being pursued by people, agencies and networks unashamedly as, if not more corrupt than him, rather cancels that out; and despite everything he still commands great support amongst the people. Why? Because pragmatically he is the only effective figure in current Thai politics, since the emasculation of the orange movement, which has ever paid more than lip service to the needs and ambitions of the "lower stratas" in this society.

I think that's about right. If the ethnic Chinese oligarchs in Thailand wanted rid of Thaksin he'd be long gone. So he's still useful to them. The layer beneath them, the rest of the Establishment, still despise Thaksin and we can see that, like you infer, in the rulings of various courts, commissions, authorities, etc., that are all rubber stamps of the Establishment. Where I would slighly differ, however, is my view that Thaksin and daughter (and PTP in general) remain in power because most of that Establishment are petrified of the progressive movement that they can't get rid of (People's Party, Move Forward, etc.). The next election could see that movement (whatever party they call thesmselves) sweep to a majority. That would seriously disrupt the tiny minority (500 or so extended families) from maintaining their wealth and priviledges. 

[marin]

Just now, GarryP said:

I hope you are right that the mind set of the newer generals is very different to the old guard. But don't forget who the military is beholden to (and I do not mean the people). 

Not the military, but the old guard generals, admirals, and air chief marshals. I do know what you are speaking of, and this is going to have to play out as well. Remember all those supporting PP know the score.

[riverhigh]

1 hour ago, billd766 said:

Does it really matter that much to you?

 

It makes no difference to me, or most farangs as we have no vote or voice in Thailand, and can do little to change any outcome in our home countries.

I disagree, these types of articles should be of interest to long term expats, even though they may neither have a vote nor a voice. You may choose to live in the expat bubble that's your choice. However, that bubble can be burst at any time by the Thai powers to be. Many long term expats are on a glorified tourist visa that can be technically  terminated on whim without recourse. Given this, it's good to know where the wind is blowing so you can take precautions the best you can. I wonder how many Jews wish they had left Germany back in the 1930s.

[spidermike007]

1 hour ago, davb said:

 

This is especially sad to see in the men.

We have a lot of choices in life and many men actually choose to be emasculated and subservient. 

 

 

[Shocked farang]

Thaksin, the man who is the original "walking ATM", Thailand loves his money... 

[Shocked farang]

9 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

We have a lot of choices in life and many men actually choose to be emasculated and subservient. 

 

 

It's not a choice. The emasculated lack the energy to revolt... 

[NoshowJones]

5 hours ago, thesetat said:

It begs to question why noone is investigating this more. Why does Thaksin care so much to get it approved before letting his daughter leave her position? 

Thaksin does things to benefit himself and his family. So, perhaps there is something in this budget that he is expecting to make a large gain from which is why he is pushing this agenda to others. 

"Thaksin does things to benefit himself and his family."  of course he does, what politician doesn't, and not just in Thailand?

[NoshowJones]

5 hours ago, Ironmike said:

I do believe he was ordered by the courts to not have anything to do with political BS in this country so why is he not locked up yet?????Taksinis only trying to fill his pockets with more gold then he had before they need to lock him up before he does another runner. 

Bring back Chan-o-chat Taksin is scared of him, to be honest this country ran better under the military rule then Taksin has ever done,, throw that whole family into prison. 

What a load of nonsense. Chan-o-chat ruled with soldiers, guns and tanks after an illegal coup, crook that he is, at least when Thaksin was PM, he was elected by the Thai people.