Pheu Thai Waits For The Big Boss - Thaksin - To Name PM Candidate

[webfact]

ANALYSIS

Pheu Thai waits for the big boss - Thaksin - to name PM candidate

By Somroutai Sapsomboon

Jintana Panyaarvudh

THE NATION

Party leader may not be contender for top govt job, in a ploy to survive another dissolution

The opposition Pheu Thai Party will announce its candidate for the next prime minister as soon as the government calls for dissolution of the House of Representatives, fugitive ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra said in a message on Sunday night.

One of the party's key leaders told The Nation: "It's not necessary to announce [a prime-ministerial candidate] before the House dissolution. It is clear-cut that Thaksin is our selling point."

Despite being ousted in the 2006 coup and exiled since 2008, Thaksin still dictates to his party - no matter its name, People Power Party or Pheu Thai Party. Whoever leads the party is still Thaksin's nominee.

Out of nowhere, in a late-night tweet, Thaksin discounted reports that Pheu Thai might decide on a party leader at its general meeting today. He said the meeting was, in fact, about approval of the party's annual financial report.

It is tradition to have the head of a party become prime minister when it wins election. But a Thaksin-backed party might be different. Although Thaksin did not say it clearly in his tweet, the bottom line was he would separate the role of party leader and prime minister.

"Our party under any name is always bullied. We faced several party dissolutions while our rival got away with it, though they were guilty. That's why I have to fight like this," Thaksin tweeted.

Normally, political parties will campaign for their party leaders as prime-ministerial candidates. But Thaksin will change the strategy for the next election. If his party is dissolved in the future, only the party leader will be banned from politics - his prime minister can still stay in office.

Thaksin has learned a lesson from when his Thai Rak Thai and People Power parties were dissolved by the Constitution Court, after electoral fraud. Thaksin and his brother-in-law Somchai Wongsawat were banned from politics for five years.

The tweets from @Thaksinlive at 10.30pm on Sunday night were intended to calm the confusion in his party. After Mingkwan Saengsuwan, team leader of last week's censure debate, declared during the closing debate in Parliament he was the main rival candidate for the prime-ministerial position - against Abhisit Vejjajiva - the Pheu Thai Party fell into disarray.

Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit immediately said the party would decide on the issue at its annual meeting. Chalerm Yoobumrung put his career on the line saying he would quit politics if Mingkwan became the party's candidate for prime minister - but he was ready to review his decision if it was to be Yingluck Shinawatra. Chiang Mai MP Surapong Towichakchaikul said Thaksin's tweet was a warning for those who wanted to become the prime-ministerial candidate to stop talking about the position. He said the candidate would come only from Thaksin's final decision.

Mingkwan's statement was seen as a declaration he wanted to corner Thaksin into nominating him as a candidate - following Thaksin's approval of Mingkwan to lead the debate - and into putting his name forward to replace Abhisit.

There was one thing clear in Thaksin's message. He has not made a decision to support Mingkwan yet.

Thaksin did not mention Mingkwan's name - instead he seemed to promote his sister Yingluck. One tweeple asked him about Yingluck, and Thaksin said his sister graduated in the United States and worked with him. She started as a saleswoman and rose to become president of Advanced Info Service.

However, Mingkwan remains one of Thaksin's choices. In his tweet, he talked about nine qualifications a prime minister must have - but they were, in fact, general and not specific. Whoever heard the list would think it matched their qualifications.

Thaksin's tactic on the announcement of a party candidate for prime minister seemed right. Waiting, or some might call it buying time, is a good tactic for Pheu Thai at the moment. Thaksin may fail to find an appropriate candidate to compete against Abhisit. But finally, he can at least calm the disarray inside his party - for now.

@Thaksinlive's tweets about 11pm on Sunday.

"I suggested them [the party] figure out what people want to see after the election. The answer must come from talking and surveying people's desire. ...Pheu Thai must find and propose someone qualified as the people want. That person must:

1. be a humble person that can coordinate with all sides, not making enemies too often.

2. be kind and compassionate

3. love justice

4. have courage to change what is wrong

5. understand people's economy and the business sector

6. be experienced in administration of big organisation, both understand and be practical

7. love the people

8. love democracy and respect people's wisdom and ability

9. stick to constitutional monarchy"

-- The Nation 2011-03-22

[Buchholz]

Thaksin did not mention Mingkwan's name - instead he seemed to promote his sister Yingluck. One tweeple asked him about Yingluck, and Thaksin said his sister graduated in the United States and worked with him. She started as a saleswoman and rose to become president of Advanced Info Service.

The OP shows they are sticking to the Master Plan.

The OP also solidifies siampolee's "plaything" assessment.

That no doubt explains that strange looking rictus on his face is due to Thaksin's hand being inserted into lord knows where to manipulate him.

Does anyone really believe that the P.T.P. is anything more than Thaksin's plaything ?

Sounds like things are falling into place for the Pheu Thai Party Financier's Master Plan...

Thaksin has gladly backed Mingkwan, all the way.

Right into a corner he can't ever hope to escape from.

If he fails then it's easier to bring his faction of MPs to heel

around Thaksin's real choices for 'leadership'.

There was an article in the other paper a while back that reported that was Thaksin's plan from the beginning.

Anoint Mingkwan with his blessings to be the Censure Leader and PTP nominated PM to appease that faction in the PTP, knowing full way that he would likely fail at the task and thus opening the door to the one he really wanted personally to become Party Leader and be the PTP nominated for PM... his sister, Yingluck.

[timekeeper]

She started as a saleswoman and rose to become president of Advanced Info Service.

started one week, president the next..........

[Crushdepth]

One of the party's key leaders told The Nation: "It's not necessary to announce [a prime-ministerial candidate] before the House dissolution. It is clear-cut that Thaksin is our selling point."

That's their policy platform? Pathetic.

[lothda]

The PT candidate must "have courage to change what is wrong" 555 what could that possibly mean? Reverse the verdict for a certain ex-PM living in exile? Oh my god

[whybother]

Surely, being so attached to Thaksin will be a negative for the PTP in the election.

Of course they will still win most of the seats in the North East, but that won't give them enough seats to put them into government. (Probably only a near majority will do that.)

How will they win seats outside of the North East where a lot more people are not in love with Thaksin? Even in the North East, there are more people (than last election) that are sick the opposition just being a Thaksin puppet party.

[timekeeper]

Surely, being so attached to Thaksin will be a negative for the PTP in the election.

Of course they will still win most of the seats in the North East, but that won't give them enough seats to put them into government. (Probably only a near majority will do that.)

How will they win seats outside of the North East where a lot more people are not in love with Thaksin? Even in the North East, there are more people (than last election) that are sick the opposition just being a Thaksin puppet party.

thaksin is so much in love with himself he believes others are too and that will be enough for them to win

his ego won't allow him to think otherwise..............

[SomTumTiger]

Dear Thaksin,

I revel in your misery.

Love,

SomtumTiger

[Siripon]

I believe Thaksin will go for his sister, Yinglak, as the PM candidate. She's certainly far more attractive than Mingkwan, a new face.

Pheua Thai could promote her as the first female PM of Thailand, thus winning more votes from women. The die-hard reds will still vote for Pheua Thai even if there's a considerable section of macho men who believe that a man is the natural leader of the house or party.Plus she has the magical surname, thus confirming to the unenlightened that Pheua Thai is Pheua Maeow, a situation they readily accept if it means the return of their beloved hero.

Mingkwan will feel abused, as do all of Thaksin's underlings, but in the end what can he do but wring his hands?

Whether Yinglak is up to being in the spotlight is another issue, I remember at a Chiang Mai allumni annual meeting when she decided not to enter the room because Suthep was there, another ex Chiang Mai student.I don't think she would like the intense media glare and pressure of being PM, but then her brother may be putting her under intense pressure to stand.

[Buchholz]

She started as a saleswoman and rose to become president of Advanced Info Service.

started one week, president the next..........

Thaksin depends on people to have faulty memories... or maybe it's his own memory that is faulty and he's simply forgotten that the position of President of AIS was a position that his sister "created"...

AIS to abolish president's post

Advanced Info Service will eliminate the president's position that is being vacated by Yingluck Shinawatra, the sister of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, according to a company source.

The source said the decision was made by the Singaporean state investment company Temasek Holdings after taking over AIS's parent company, Shin Corporation.

Ms Yingluck had been the president of AIS since the post was created five years ago on her initiative, the source said.

Yingluck left AIS and is now the boss at SC ASSet, where another Shinawatra has begun working and further reflects how the clan does business:

It seems that Thaksin's daughter, Pinthongta, age 29, has begun working with her aunt, Yingluck, age 44, at SC Asset. She doesn't have any formal position yet with the company, but has been helping her aunt in marketing, events, campaigns, and customer relations management.

What might have helped get a foot in the door at the rapidly expanding business is that she is the second-largest shareholder of SC Asset with 28.97% of its stock.

Her younger sister, Paethongtarn, has a smidgen more as the number one stockholder with 29.93%.

SC Asset has set a goal of 10 Billion Baht in sales next year.

Paethongtarn sure has come far from her days as a McDonalds' counter employee.

Rising to become a nearly one-third owner in a business doing 10 Billion Baht a year.

Perhaps she should become PM.

.

Edited March 22, 2011 by Buchholz

[janverbeem]

Judging from the 9 points required to qualify to be Thaksin's candidate,and particullary point 3-8-9 ,I doubt that the will find one in Thailand.

Edited March 22, 2011 by janverbeem

[hammered]

I believe Thaksin will go for his sister, Yinglak, as the PM candidate. She's certainly far more attractive than Mingkwan, a new face.

Pheua Thai could promote her as the first female PM of Thailand, thus winning more votes from women. The die-hard reds will still vote for Pheua Thai even if there's a considerable section of macho men who believe that a man is the natural leader of the house or party.Plus she has the magical surname, thus confirming to the unenlightened that Pheua Thai is Pheua Maeow, a situation they readily accept if it means the return of their beloved hero.

Mingkwan will feel abused, as do all of Thaksin's underlings, but in the end what can he do but wring his hands?

Whether Yinglak is up to being in the spotlight is another issue, I remember at a Chiang Mai allumni annual meeting when she decided not to enter the room because Suthep was there, another ex Chiang Mai student.I don't think she would like the intense media glare and pressure of being PM, but then her brother may be putting her under intense pressure to stand.

Good analysis. She is also supposed to be quite friendly with Korn of the Dems. Yingluck also will retain Chalerm which will upset Sudarat but Sudarat is going to bring little in Bangkok while Chalerm could deliver a Thonburi seat or two, and of course we have the Purachai party to annoy the Dems in BKK, and quite where a maverick like Purachai will fit into the future coalition deals who knows, but the more parties the better for Thaksin.

[Macmundi]

History will repeat itself from the looks of it all...

[Buchholz]

I believe Thaksin will go for his sister, Yinglak, as the PM candidate. She's certainly far more attractive than Mingkwan, a new face.

Pheua Thai could promote her as the first female PM of Thailand, thus winning more votes from women. The die-hard reds will still vote for Pheua Thai even if there's a considerable section of macho men who believe that a man is the natural leader of the house or party.Plus she has the magical surname, thus confirming to the unenlightened that Pheua Thai is Pheua Maeow, a situation they readily accept if it means the return of their beloved hero.

Mingkwan will feel abused, as do all of Thaksin's underlings, but in the end what can he do but wring his hands?

Whether Yinglak is up to being in the spotlight is another issue, I remember at a Chiang Mai alumni annual meeting when she decided not to enter the room because Suthep was there, another ex Chiang Mai student.I don't think she would like the intense media glare and pressure of being PM, but then her brother may be putting her under intense pressure to stand.

Good analysis. She is also supposed to be quite friendly with Korn of the Dems. Yingluck also will retain Chalerm which will upset Sudarat but Sudarat is going to bring little in Bangkok while Chalerm could deliver a Thonburi seat or two, and of course we have the Purachai party to annoy the Dems in BKK, and quite where a maverick like Purachai will fit into the future coalition deals who knows, but the more parties the better for Thaksin.

I agree the "woman vote" is an unknown entity here. It could prove to be a deciding factor and Yingluck, on a photo op basis, is the epitome of the new professional woman persona that many women could be swayed towards.

btw, the other paper has Thaksin having narrowed down his choices to Yingluck and Mingkwan for Party Leader in his Tweeting.

Not mentioned were current Party Leader Yongyuth and Chalerm.

He also Tweeted that if PTP wins the election, he would help the new PM with suggestions on how to run the government.

.

Edited March 22, 2011 by Buchholz

[Buchholz]

1. be a humble person that can coordinate with all sides, not making enemies too often.

2. be kind and compassionate

3. love justice

4. have courage to change what is wrong

5. understand people's economy and the business sector

6. be experienced in administration of big organisation, both understand and be practical

7. love the people

8. love democracy and respect people's wisdom and ability

9. stick to constitutional monarchy

It'll be an exercise to bounce these criteria off the final Thaksin choice.

.

[LindsayBKK]

So 1 thru 9 means to be opposite of what they have been doing in the past.

How are they going to do that?

Edited March 22, 2011 by LindsayBKK

[animatic]

Interesting and I suspect ironic, that both leading PTP candidates for PM/Party leader are thought to be closeted gays, yet big leader Thaksin has gone on anti-gay rants and Rak Chiang Mai 51 has used violence against the LGTG community. I have no issue with their sexuality, just the hypocrisy of the party leadership in relation to the sexuality of others not staying in the closet.

Then:

1. be a humble person that can coordinate with all sides, not making enemies too often.

2. be kind and compassionate

3. love justice

4. have courage to change what is wrong

Kind of leaves out Chalerm pretty much.

Edited March 22, 2011 by animatic

[Crushdepth]

Nepotism is revolting.

[thaihome]

I believe Thaksin will go for his sister, Yinglak, as the PM candidate. She's certainly far more attractive than Mingkwan, a new face.

Pheua Thai could promote her as the first female PM of Thailand, thus winning more votes from women. The die-hard reds will still vote for Pheua Thai even if there's a considerable section of macho men who believe that a man is the natural leader of the house or party.Plus she has the magical surname, thus confirming to the unenlightened that Pheua Thai is Pheua Maeow, a situation they readily accept if it means the return of their beloved hero.

Mingkwan will feel abused, as do all of Thaksin's underlings, but in the end what can he do but wring his hands?

Whether Yinglak is up to being in the spotlight is another issue, I remember at a Chiang Mai allumni annual meeting when she decided not to enter the room because Suthep was there, another ex Chiang Mai student.I don't think she would like the intense media glare and pressure of being PM, but then her brother may be putting her under intense pressure to stand.

A good analysis, except voters in Thailand do not vote for the PM. They vote for a single candidate for the district seat in Parliament. In most places in Thailand, how to vote is decided by the efforts of the local faction’s canvassers, who are often also the phuyaibans and Kamnans, the local candidates have supporting them. Rarely does national politics influence that vote very much.

TH

[biplanebluey]

Hells bells Man--------Theres nobody in Thailand with all those qualifications!!!!!!!

[alstaxi]

Dear Thaksin,

I revel in your misery.

Love,

SomtumTiger

+10

[Buchholz]

There's been a slight revision downward from Chalerm's claim...

Opposition Leader Confident His Party Will Win 300 Seats in Next Election

the Pheu Thai Party will certainly win at least 300 MP seats in the next election due to the fact that Thai citizens can no longer accept the double-standards practiced by the government.

From 300 to...

Pheu Thai Believes It Will Win 270 Seats in Next Election

The Pheu Thai Party held its annual assembly today and announced it will win as many as 270 seats in the House of Representatives.

In doing so, it will have to win most seats up for grabs in the North and Northeastern provinces.

Party leaders did not rule out the possibility of an alliance with Bhum Jai Thai and Chart Thai Pattana parties.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-22

[webfact]

Thaksin to campaign for Pheu Thai: Somchai

Former Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat on Tuesday revealed that his brother-in-law Thaksin Shinawatra would assist in the campaigning for Pheu Thai Party to form the next government.

"Thaksin will help to the fullest extent of his ability to enable Pheu Thai to form a single-party government," he said.

-- The Nation 2011-03-22

[Buchholz]

Thaksin to campaign for Pheu Thai: Somchai

Former Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat on Tuesday revealed that his brother-in-law Thaksin Shinawatra would assist in the campaigning for Pheu Thai Party to form the next government.

So one banned from politics Shinawatra clan member announces that another banned from politics Shinawatra clan member is going to do political campaigning.

Par for the course with the Shinawatra clan.

For the hat trick, will another banned from politics Shinawatra clan member, Somchai's wife Yaowapa, be coordinating canvassers?

[animatic]

Thaksin to campaign for Pheu Thai: Somchai

Former Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat on Tuesday revealed that his brother-in-law Thaksin Shinawatra would assist in the campaigning for Pheu Thai Party to form the next government.

So one banned from politics Shinawatra clan member announces that another banned from politics Shinawatra clan member is going to do political campaigning.

Par for the course with the Shinawatra clan.

For the hat trick, will another banned from politics Shinawatra clan member, Somchai's wife Yaowapa, be coordinating canvassers?

And they of course would be most motivated to canvas for the last competent, unbanned, yet photogenic Shinawatra clan candidate possible.

Of course Payup will be the on site canvaser, under large sis yowawhopper

with the slogan 'Payup, or else my sister Yingkuck can't run the show'.

Edited March 22, 2011 by animatic

[Siripon]

I believe Thaksin will go for his sister, Yinglak, as the PM candidate. She's certainly far more attractive than Mingkwan, a new face.

Pheua Thai could promote her as the first female PM of Thailand, thus winning more votes from women. The die-hard reds will still vote for Pheua Thai even if there's a considerable section of macho men who believe that a man is the natural leader of the house or party.Plus she has the magical surname, thus confirming to the unenlightened that Pheua Thai is Pheua Maeow, a situation they readily accept if it means the return of their beloved hero.

Mingkwan will feel abused, as do all of Thaksin's underlings, but in the end what can he do but wring his hands?

Whether Yinglak is up to being in the spotlight is another issue, I remember at a Chiang Mai allumni annual meeting when she decided not to enter the room because Suthep was there, another ex Chiang Mai student.I don't think she would like the intense media glare and pressure of being PM, but then her brother may be putting her under intense pressure to stand.

A good analysis, except voters in Thailand do not vote for the PM. They vote for a single candidate for the district seat in Parliament. In most places in Thailand, how to vote is decided by the efforts of the local faction’s canvassers, who are often also the phuyaibans and Kamnans, the local candidates have supporting them. Rarely does national politics influence that vote very much.

TH

You forgot the party list MPs which now number 125, a quarter of the total number of MPs.

[Fremann85]

what do u mean by that???

Dear Thaksin,

I revel in your misery.

Love,

SomtumTiger

[whybother]

Dear Thaksin,

I revel in your misery.

Love,

SomtumTiger

what do u mean by that???

I think it's pretty obvious.

revel = take great please or delight

misery = Mental or emotional unhappiness or distress

http://www.thefreedictionary.com

[SomTumTiger]

Dear Thaksin,

I revel in your misery.

Love,

SomtumTiger

what do u mean by that???

I think it's pretty obvious.

revel = take great please or delight

misery = Mental or emotional unhappiness or distress

http://www.thefreedictionary.com

That pretty much sums it up. Thaksin has caused so much death, destruction, and misery in the country he "professes to love", that I wish nothing but the worst for him personally. Every Thaksin defeat and setback is a win for Thailand.

Edited March 23, 2011 by SomTumTiger

[thaihome]

I believe Thaksin will go for his sister, Yinglak, as the PM candidate. She's certainly far more attractive than Mingkwan, a new face.

Pheua Thai could promote her as the first female PM of Thailand, thus winning more votes from women. The die-hard reds will still vote for Pheua Thai even if there's a considerable section of macho men who believe that a man is the natural leader of the house or party.Plus she has the magical surname, thus confirming to the unenlightened that Pheua Thai is Pheua Maeow, a situation they readily accept if it means the return of their beloved hero.

Mingkwan will feel abused, as do all of Thaksin's underlings, but in the end what can he do but wring his hands?

Whether Yinglak is up to being in the spotlight is another issue, I remember at a Chiang Mai allumni annual meeting when she decided not to enter the room because Suthep was there, another ex Chiang Mai student.I don't think she would like the intense media glare and pressure of being PM, but then her brother may be putting her under intense pressure to stand.

A good analysis, except voters in Thailand do not vote for the PM. They vote for a single candidate for the district seat in Parliament. In most places in Thailand, how to vote is decided by the efforts of the local factions canvassers, who are often also the phuyaibans and Kamnans, the local candidates have supporting them. Rarely does national politics influence that vote very much.

TH

You forgot the party list MPs which now number 125, a quarter of the total number of MPs.

No, I didn't forget them, but as you say, making up only a quarter of the MP's they don't influence the outcome much.

They do make for an interesting metric for a how popular a party might be.

TH

Edited March 23, 2011 by thaihome