Thaksin Allies In Thai Election Landslide: Exit Polls

[TAWP]

It's not a landslide. The exit-polls are inheritable flawed.

Exit polls are rarely wrong though. So now we have to question is the vote count being tampered with?

Exit-polls are *always* wrong -- the question is with by how much.

They are usually good at showing indications but one shouldn't make drastic decisions from them. I think the election result will end up around the numbers several analysts and others predicted them at some week ago. Some 250-255 seats for PT.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

It's not a landslide. The exit-polls are inheritable flawed.

In a close election they're flawed. When the results are that one party is DOUBLE the nearest contender, I wouldn't get my hopes up.

[lannarebirth]

Shows how out of touch the Thai Visa news section regulars are with the opinions of the majority of Thai people IMO.

Great day for Thailand - putting the military and elite firmly in their places once and for all.

Thaksin is the elite. And now expect Thailand to be under his one family rule for decades. North Korea, Thai style. Be afraid.

Whilst I don't think it is necessarily a good thing overall, for Thailand, perhaps far from it.. truth is none of us really know what is.. what I would say, however, is.. Shut up scaremongering!!! What we do know is Thaksin is about deals (with everyone, including the west) and money, and even occasionally the odd castoffs (populist policies) to keep the masses happy.. sound like Kim Yung Il, any of that?... No!! And you know it, just posting sillyness for the sake of it!!! ('Be afraid'.. idiot!!!)

You sound like someone that never lived here under a Thaksin administration. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Not expecting an answer.

[bangkokrick]

It's not a landslide. The exit-polls are inheritable flawed.

Exit polls are rarely wrong though. So now we have to question is the vote count being tampered with?

Not so elated now are you Ober. You were too quick of the mark with you celebrations.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Exit-polls are *always* wrong -- the question is with by how much.

They are usually good at showing indications but one shouldn't make drastic decisions from them. I think the election result will end up around the numbers several analysts and others predicted them at some week ago. Some 250-255 seats for PT.

Based on.. .... what?

[rubl]

Rumours of fraud already as the exit polls are slightly wide of the mark.

Puea Thai with a projected 250 seats, way off the 300+ exit poll prediction...

I have to check previous poll results, but from what I remember none were to reliable. No surprise with 30 -60% undecided. I'm a bit puzzled about the ext poll results. Normally they're still not correct, but the margin of error displayed now seems ridiculous. Well, the EC will report of the results, any ongoing investigations and the public still have 7 days to report irregularities, real , probable or just imagined. Still by later tonight a 98% reliability should be possible

[thaibutty]

I am really interested to see, how exaclty they want to raise the minimum wages to 300 baht all around the country, without bringing thousands of companies and small business owners into bankruptcy.

You ever been at 7 11 where 3 are behind the counter 1 register open and store full.Pay one good employee 600 and you are still even. Keep on dreaming

So what you are saying is that PT's policies will lead to massive unemployment.

someone has to pay for all the people who hand out unnecessary paper tickets for park houses. Or the guards with the whistles or the he insane numbers of totally helpless staff in so many places. You think that business owners are going to pay them with 300 baht a day for a totally useless job???

[thaibeachlovers]

Only good thing coming out of all this is going to be that their dreams will soon turn in nightmares for a lot of people and that is when hopefully they will realized what kind of mistake they made voting for them....

It will be too late. Total power will be solidified. Democracy is DEAD in Thailand, starting today.

<deleted> would all you bleating ex-pats know?

Let me answer that.... STUFF ALL.

My wife's family and just about every Thai I know have had enough of the Democrats.

20 years since they were elected and yet they have clung onto power with the help of the military.

They deserve to be booted out.

The people have spoken in a free and fair election.

The elite need to understand, democracy means majority rule, not minority rule.

Despite Thaksin't sins, he understood what the poor want, the Democrats have no idea at all. It will take a complete rebirth of that party to make them understand.

The life of the average poor Thai was considerably improved under Thaksin's rule and people remember that.

They have waited patiently for this day and they clearly haven't swallowed all the crap that has been spouted by the Bangkok elite and their media.

We have to respect the will of the Thai people and hope the military will stay in their barracks and out of politics.

What other democracy has had 26 coups? It's a bloody farce, elite and military are hand in glove.... sucking the life out of this country.

I agree 100% with every thing that you say,I would think that most, if not all, of the Visa writers who are against the result have never seen how the people live in the 'sticks'.

Well I have, and it's not the worst existence.

Good power supply, water supply, reasonably good roads, many people in the village seem to be building new houses, lots of new cars/ pickups/ motorcycles and broadband internet.

Plenty of shops selling almost eveything.

No one looks starved, no beggars sleeping under bridges- no slums or shacks.

My mum in law had to go to hospital, and got treated- they didn't have to sell their children to pay for it.

All the children go to school, and seem very happy.

If life is so hard, I'm not seeing it.

[hanuman2543]

If there are elections in our homecountries, would we like when foreigners there would call the majority of the voters "corrupt, uneducated, greedy bla, bla bal". For sure we would not like that. Is it democratic to repeat and repeat and repeat prejudices? Maybe the people in Thailand not want a "Westernstyle Democracy". We should respect that.

[steveromagnino]

"New airport- huge amount of corruption, poor construction, bad design, many many problems."

At least they built an airport.

"Skytrain- huge amount of corruption when Thaksin cronies tried to take it over."

At least they have public transportation system instead of tuk-tuks.

"Suppression of the media."

Not even close to Ahissit last year. Not even close.

"Corruption of the judiciary."

The last two elections were declared invalid by the Abhissit/junta judiciary.

just to address the skytrain, I am sure you are WELL aware that the Skytrain was opened and operational prior to TRT taking office in December 1999. TRT came to power in 2001. The only thing TRT did regarding the skytrain was to attempt to buy it themselves, and also to block the extensions done by the BMA (which at that time and still is a Democrat Governor). During their period the underground was launched, it is true; although that was delayed as TRT pushed out various incumbent suppliers with valid contracts, and replaced with their own; for instance the media in all stations was already signed with a firm; but the entire process was slowed by Thaksin's son who had his own media company somehow pushed to the front of the queue displacing another firm (whose family is connected to Ch. K. Chang which is usually a Dem supporter) without any open bidding or action.

Those in the local media sometimes say the worst periods of suppression would be during the TRT 2003-2005 period when there was not only various 'causes' but also complete media intimidation and buy outs with TRT members/appointees already controlling most of the major tv networks (Ch 3, Ch7, ch 9); who can forget the ITV rebels; the raids; the open lying and payments for things like chicken flu...it was during this period that Thailand slumped in open media rankings, and the subsequent slumps are more about website and information clamp downs which are bad, but not nearly as bad as being openly told to report and say things in certain ways or get fired. Which even I believe the chairman of the BKK Post received more than once; for things as childish as saying Shin Sat was too little too late, the airport had cracks in it and the like. The reporter who suggested that the Shinawatras had got richer as a result of politics and was sued for a cool few billion.

This was the period when THailand went from 59th to 107th in press freedom rankings; that's the biggest drop I think and has steadily fallen from there, sadly, and not helped along the way by ANY politicians.

The retribution period of late 2007/early 2008 when Jakapop Penkair launched another revenge mission on anyone who worked for the PR Dept of Thailand channels/networks singling out people who had said anything bad about Thaksin during the coup period wasn't exactly a highlight either.

As for the last 2 elections, I do believe you are mistaken? The 2006 snap election was invalid because of the way it was conducted. The 2007 election, certain individuals and certain parties broke the law, and paid the consequence as happens the world over...the election itself and the MPs were indeed elected from then until today.

[animatic]

They may not realize it now, but they will eventually.

It is a sad day for Thailand.

Absolute rubbish! It's called democracy and the Thais have expressed their right to it with a landslide victory for the most popular party.

You obviously miss the point.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

You sound like someone that never lived here under a Thaksin administration. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Not expecting an answer.

Hey, nice debating tactic!

Try it on me. I've lived under pretty much any kind of government here.

I wasn't initially a fan of Thaksin/TRT, but admit to being won over in several areas. Also at this point in time it's the only force that can move Thailand forward.

(And before anyone asks: "Forward" (in my definition of course; this is all personal opinion after all), is away from feudalism. Not sucking up to it.

[Throatwobbler]

PT's predicted number of seats is now 251 - just over 50% - which will give them the power to form a government whatever happens. If this is the actual number of seats, then it is 18 more seats than the last election in 2007 won by PPP under the supposed leadership of Samak and suggests that the majority of the population are still at odds with what happened over the last 4 years and willing to give the Thaksin clan another chance at running the country, regardless of what anyone on thaivisa.com thinks.

Good to see Chuwit probably set to get a run in parliament. Would have been better for comedy value if Jatuporn had still been able to claim a place in the circus.

Hopefully k. Chuwit remembers he's not supposed to punch another MP in the face

Personally i hope Chuwit goes and punches a lot of them in the face, from both sides. They all deserve it.

He should be the next PM. The most honest one out there.

[rubl]

If there are elections in our homecountries, would we like when foreigners there would call the majority of the voters "corrupt, uneducated, greedy bla, bla bal". For sure we would not like that. Is it democratic to repeat and repeat and repeat prejudices? Maybe the people in Thailand not want a "Westernstyle Democracy". We should respect that.

I respect the outcome, even if I might not agree

[WinnieTheKhwai]

They may not realize it now, but they will eventually.

It is a sad day for Thailand.

Absolute rubbish! It's called democracy and the Thais have expressed their right to it with a landslide victory for the most popular party.

You obviously miss the point.

Alreeet..! another one out of arguments.

[SteeleJoe]

[...I would think that most, if not all, of the Visa writers who are against the result have never seen how the people live in the 'sticks'.

Well I have, and it's not the worst existence.

Good power supply, water supply, reasonably good roads, many people in the village seem to be building new houses, lots of new cars/ pickups/ motorcycles and broadband internet.

Plenty of shops selling almost eveything.

No one looks starved, no beggars sleeping under bridges- no slums or shacks.

My mum in law had to go to hospital, and got treated- they didn't have to sell their children to pay for it.

All the children go to school, and seem very happy.

If life is so hard, I'm not seeing it.

I have too. I've also seen how the urban poor live -- and lived with them. If I believed that Thaksin and Co. was going to be ultimately better for the poor and the rest of the Thais than the other group of elites that want to run things, then I might be willing to overlook a lot of very unpalatable truths and support them.

But I have very little or no reason to believe that.

[silk]

a great day for Thailand, long overdue.

now its time to get the original perpetrators of the airport hijacking from all those years ago... seems that was all too easily forgotten.

amnesty was promised, so why go after them now?

[somo]

They may not realize it now, but they will eventually.

It is a sad day for Thailand.

Absolute rubbish! It's called democracy and the Thais have expressed their right to it with a landslide victory for the most popular party.

It's not a landslide. The exit-polls are inheritable flawed.

Methinks you are glutching at slaws

[animatic]

"New airport- huge amount of corruption, poor construction, bad design, many many problems."

At least they built an airport.

"Skytrain- huge amount of corruption when Thaksin cronies tried to take it over."

At least they have public transportation system instead of tuk-tuks.

"Suppression of the media."

Not even close to Ahissit last year. Not even close.

"Corruption of the judiciary."

The last two elections were declared invalid by the Abhissit/junta judiciary.

just to address the skytrain, I am sure you are WELL aware that the Skytrain was opened and operational prior to TRT taking office in December 1999. TRT came to power in 2001. The only thing TRT did regarding the skytrain was to attempt to buy it themselves, and also to block the extensions done by the BMA (which at that time and still is a Democrat Governor). During their period the underground was launched, it is true; although that was delayed as TRT pushed out various incumbent suppliers with valid contracts, and replaced with their own; for instance the media in all stations was already signed with a firm; but the entire process was slowed by Thaksin's son who had his own media company somehow pushed to the front of the queue displacing another firm (whose family is connected to Ch. K. Chang which is usually a Dem supporter) without any open bidding or action.

Those in the local media sometimes say the worst periods of suppression would be during the TRT 2003-2005 period when there was not only various 'causes' but also complete media intimidation and buy outs with TRT members/appointees already controlling most of the major tv networks (Ch 3, Ch7, ch 9); who can forget the ITV rebels; the raids; the open lying and payments for things like chicken flu...it was during this period that Thailand slumped in open media rankings, and the subsequent slumps are more about website and information clamp downs which are bad, but not nearly as bad as being openly told to report and say things in certain ways or get fired. Which even I believe the chairman of the BKK Post received more than once; for things as childish as saying Shin Sat was too little too late, the airport had cracks in it and the like. The reporter who suggested that the Shinawatras had got richer as a result of politics and was sued for a cool few billion.

This was the period when THailand went from 59th to 107th in press freedom rankings; that's the biggest drop I think and has steadily fallen from there, sadly, and not helped along the way by ANY politicians.

The retribution period of late 2007/early 2008 when Jakapop Penkair launched another revenge mission on anyone who worked for the PR Dept of Thailand channels/networks singling out people who had said anything bad about Thaksin during the coup period wasn't exactly a highlight either.

As for the last 2 elections, I do believe you are mistaken? The 2006 snap election was invalid because of the way it was conducted. The 2007 election, certain individuals and certain parties broke the law, and paid the consequence as happens the world over...the election itself and the MPs were indeed elected from then until today.

No doubt we can expect more of the same or worse.

[OlafStapleton]

My wife voted for Taksin so did all her family.

So did the family of several foreigners who told husband they wouldn't vote Taksin.

[BrianCR]

A very sad day. This is not a democracy, it is all about money.

Last night my g/f's mother confirmed that all 7 members of her family and virtually everyone in the village (Korat) received 300thb each.

It is a bloody disgrace.

Hey Swerv

Firstly, perhaps you should look in a dictionary and at the word 'corrupt' as you appear to be telling us that your family are exactly that and for Thb 300 per person? Corruption applies to both the giver and receiver and if you put your batteries in you perhaps may understand that one would not exist without the other!!

Second; I have never heard so much clap-trap from people who are obviously 'politically blind' as to the happenings in Thailand (or perhaps the world). I have lived and worked here for some 30 years and have seen (obviously acceptable by your standards) three corrupt military coups and possibly one Prime Minster who wasn't corrupt. Maybe, you can remember Chatchai (military coup) - thrown out by general Suchinda - reason corruption! Corruption is the word used for every coup I have witnessed and has never, until Taksin, ended in a prosecution. All of you Thai visa readers seem to do nothing other than write nonsense about a subject of which you obviously have very little knowledge. Possibly Taksin is corrupt (well he is according to the Thai judiciary but I don't believe in Father Xmas either), So as far as corruption goes why not prosecute all the others who, over the past 30 years have also been accused but never taken to court perhaps, over fear of what they could expose about others in defense?

Third; Taksin has done more for your Thai family (and millions of others) then anyone else before him (most of whom did nothing! For example a) social security - including medical care - pensions for other than government employees c) Thb30 hospital visits for the worst off d) OTOP - with Micro financing - helping millions of rural poor e) free education for all children up to high school level f) EP programmes introduced into Government schools - helping children compete with the better off! Now, please Thai visa readers, please tell me one other politician who has done anything for Thai people? Apart from Chatchai who, introduced the phrase, no problem, to the Thai electorate, after a massive storm killed 1000's in the south of Thailand!!!

Forth; So what is Taksin's crime? Greed! My belief is that he didn't share enough with the elite and so had to be disposed of, it is even possible that he was offered a deal regarding a non custodial sentence in exchange for not spilling the beans on the corruption in Thai politics which, after evidence had been given was back tracked on - Taksin is clever enough to now keep his mouth shut regarding others as their services will be required for his return to Thailand. Services that they will agree to offer in exchange for silence but, only after face saving has taken place all round! (Research Chatchai's return from English after the Suchinda coup)

Five; The above may have some arguable points and could be slightly off however, it will stand up to more scrutiny then just yelling nonsensical comments at others who after all, are more familiar with bar girls and various brands of Thai beer than Thai politics.

PS

I hope your family had a party with the Thb 300 they each received (tell them next time to vote with their heads and not their pockets!

[DP25]

(And before anyone asks: "Forward" (in my definition of course; this is all personal opinion after all), is away from feudalism. Not sucking up to it.

Thaksin is the polar opposite of moving away from feudalism

[ozzieovaseas]

Only good thing coming out of all this is going to be that their dreams will soon turn in nightmares for a lot of people and that is when hopefully they will realized what kind of mistake they made voting for them....

It will be too late. Total power will be solidified. Democracy is DEAD in Thailand, starting today.

Errr..just how is democracy dead?

The people have spoken havent they? If anything this prooves that democracy DOES work.

I dont like it any more than you, but you cannot claim democracy wasnt done just becuase you dont like the outcome. After all, NOT accepting the voice of the majority of the people would make one a bit of a dictator wouldnt it?

[TAWP]

Exit-polls are *always* wrong -- the question is with by how much.

They are usually good at showing indications but one shouldn't make drastic decisions from them. I think the election result will end up around the numbers several analysts and others predicted them at some week ago. Some 250-255 seats for PT.

Based on.. .... what?

Did you just ask what analysts base their analyses on?

[TAWP]

My wife voted for Taksin so did all her family.

So did the family of several foreigners who told husband they wouldn't vote Taksin.

So you are saying that Reds and their supporters often lie and cheat?

[mccw]

Shows how out of touch the Thai Visa news section regulars are with the opinions of the majority of Thai people IMO.

Great day for Thailand - putting the military and elite firmly in their places once and for all.

Thaksin clan is just another elite .

[lannarebirth]

If the exit polls are correct this is such a resounding rejection of the Democrats polices over the last two years.

From how they came to power, to the handling and subsequent investigation of last years red shirt rally to their subsequent election campaign.

The only choice people really had was between the Democrats and their coalition partners or Puea Thai, it would seem that the Democeats (and partners) have totally misread the mood of the nation.

This result may not be so much an endorsement for Thaksin but a rejection of the status quo of Thai politics.

Agree 100%

When the mobs once again hit the streets to bring back Thaksin, what will you say then? A mob is a too valuable thing to waste.

[Jirapa]

They may not realize it now, but they will eventually.

It is a sad day for Thailand.

Absolute rubbish! It's called democracy and the Thais have expressed their right to it with a landslide victory for the most popular party.

It's not a landslide. The exit-polls are inheritable flawed.

We'll see about that. The BBC and CNN are estimating she got 3 fifths of the overall vote so sounds like a landslide to me

[WinnieTheKhwai]

a great day for Thailand, long overdue.

now its time to get the original perpetrators of the airport hijacking from all those years ago... seems that was all too easily forgotten.

amnesty was promised, so why go after them now?

Yes, amnesty is the way forward. Sadly this will include those responsible for murdering 90 individuals a year ago, some medical nurses in a temple, but it's the only way to make progress.

[elcent]

It also shows how fundamentally different Asian and Western cultures and values are. This is something that a lot of farang posters overlook. You may be married to a Thai. You may have been living here for 20 years. But still, you grew up in a completely different society, with different morals, values and ethics. What's right for the goose may not be right for the gander. You may treat this country as your home. The Thais may treat you as one of them. But, you are and will always be a foreigner and trying to force your values and ethics down the Thai people's throat will merely make them resent you more.

... your comments represents what Thais feel about Abhisit. Even he tried hard he somehow will be always disconnected. He never had the gras-root supports. The PT was better organized and the "NO votes" discouraged the Democrats more than any other participant. I actually expected exactly this to happen.

The Democrats did quite a few good things and we all should be thankful for that.

Now, a new chapter will be written and lets hope that this will be a challenge for better and without violations.

There are good people in every party.

Congratulations to PT. It's your turn to keep the "ship" - Thailand moving and floating well and save.