Politics Thaksin Plays Power Card to Keep Paetongtarn in Place

[NoshowJones]

3 hours ago, OldBird said:

"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? 

It would be interesting to know what Prayut's bank account was in 2014 compared with nine years later, including his offshore accounts, yet Thaksin was a politician while Prayut was a soldier only playing at being one.

[Trevor Collins]

...will no-one rid me of this upstart former premier?

[Hardcastle P]

On 6/22/2025 at 12:29 PM, lordgrinz said:

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

Thaksin?

 

On 6/22/2025 at 12:29 PM, lordgrinz said:

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

 

[Hardcastle P]

Thaksin

[NoshowJones]

1 hour ago, proton said:

 

Or this.  

[sambum]

"Anticipating future political shifts, Thaksin is reportedly orchestrating a new cabinet composition. This reshuffle would see the ultra-conservative Ruam Thai Sang Chart rise to the second-largest coalition spot after Pheu Thai, replacing Bhumjaithai, who left the government coalition."

 

I thought that part of the agreement regarding his return was that he stayed out of politics  - Hmmm?

[Reddavy]

On 6/22/2025 at 6:29 AM, lordgrinz said:

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

Obvious Thaksin 🤷🏼

[SpaceKadet]

On 6/22/2025 at 12:45 PM, davb said:

What does "ultra-conservative" mean?

Look at the current US government. That should give you and idea. They call themselves "righties", as opposed to "lefties" which are close to 7 billion of the planets population.

[JAG]

8 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

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. 

Better the devil you know?

[still kicking]

On 6/22/2025 at 1:29 PM, lordgrinz said:

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

Thaksin

[Patong2021]

On 6/22/2025 at 1:29 AM, lordgrinz said:

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

 

 Thaksin and the military high command.

[findlay13]

On 6/22/2025 at 3:29 PM, lordgrinz said:

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

They shouldn't bother saying "Former" P.M.

[Luuk Chaai]

7 hours ago, JAG said:

Better the devil you know?

Do something !    not doing anything because of fear of the unknown ..  just pathetic !  

[kiwikeith]

22 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. 

There probably will be another change then and she will stay in power 

[watchcat]

19 hours ago, OldBird said:

I wonder how much more money this crooked family is going to steal this time from the Thai people?

Why wait, kick him and the whole family out of the country.

[Bluetongue]

On 6/23/2025 at 1:37 PM, ronnie50 said:

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. 

Not arguing with your quite valid point. Just interested where you got this 500 or so figure from. For instance there is a handful of super wealthy families known by name and there must be quite a few more. Is it an AI figure, solid research or plucked out of the air?

[ronnie50]

11 hours ago, Bluetongue said:

Not arguing with your quite valid point. Just interested where you got this 500 or so figure from. For instance there is a handful of super wealthy families known by name and there must be quite a few more. Is it an AI figure, solid research or plucked out of the air?

No. I'm not sure of the figure of 'bona-fide' Hi-So Thais (whatever bona-fide would be). It's a guess by me, but good idea, maybe AI would have a better guess.

 

By wealth - some of the aristocracy "Na-this, N-that" surnames) are not wealthy, because the name comes from history and historic wealth, and in some cases, that wealth has already been tapped out or frittered away by former uncles, aunts, whatever. So you can't necessarily tell by a 'sakinda' name. Still, many are well-educated even if not wealthy, and have a decent home, and the family name still opens doors - and they know 'extinctively' who they will and won't vote for. The pee-noi system though extends through society and in the upper wealth category the extended families can be quite big, and the patron dishes out the cash via the old Chinese guangxi-type of distribution - or other ways if not Thai-Chinese but still very wealthy. So ultimately it's probably a lot larger than 500 - a guess at the number of ultimate family heads - bigger number is probably in the low thousands - but in a country of 70 million, with the majority earning minimum wage USD 10 daily, or even twice minimun wage, it's still working poverty in comparison to the well-connected, many of the latter scared of the majority with a vote.