Debate Could Hurt Abhisit As Well As Yingluck

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE

Debate could hurt Abhisit as well as Yingluck

Avudh Panananda

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva will share the limelight later this month - but for different reasons.

In the upcoming censure debate, many may have been anticipating the Yingluck-Abhisit verbal duel to be the main event. But they are likely to be disappointed. The two will not, in fact, engage in a one-on-one spat.

Abhisit is definitely going to make a fiery critique of the government's performance.

But as hard as he will try to pin the target on Yingluck's back, she will, with her wide-eyed innocent look, deflect his attack to someone else.

While he is poised to show his oratory skills in bringing Yingluck to task, he will also be judged by the court of public opinion on whether he has a fighting chance to lead the Democrats back into power.

Given the prevailing sentiment, he may have a tougher time than Yingluck to come out on top of the censure debate.

No one is expecting Yingluck to match Abhisit as an orator. But everyone wants to see whether his clever remarks are with or without substance.

If Abhisit cannot nail Yingluck for impropriety, then his censure could backfire and haunt him.

For the past year, the Democrats have been pursuing a political strategy to single out former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as their adversary.

They portray Yingluck as a Thaksin clone unworthy of their attention. For a year, they have zoomed in on Thaksin and virtually left Yingluck alone.

They have helped make the prime minister less visible in broad daylight while chasing after the shadow of Thaksin.

It will be interesting, indeed, to see if Abhisit can pin any specific blame on Yingluck after he has ignored her for so long in order to focus on a bigger fish like Thaksin.

As bleak as the prospect is to bring down the government or fault Yingluck's leadership, Abhisit has no choice but to proceed with the grilling.

The censure debate may at least help to level a playing field heavily tipped in Pheu Thai's favour.

For Abhisit's leadership to remain relevant, it is imperative the Democrats have a sound strategy to outwit Pheu Thai.

Voters have already been over-exposed to the so-called evils of Thaksin. The voting outcome will not swing to the Democrats unless there is a clear and better alternative.

Abhisit is busy lashing out at the flaws of the government but he appears unclear in spelling out other viable choices to those offered by Pheu Thai.

If the main opposition party wants to win trust, it is obliged to convince voters it can lead to a brighter future.

Should Abhisit fail to outline a sound alternative to Thaksin's legacy, then it's perhaps time for the Democrats to undergo a major overhaul.

The censure debate will likely become a watershed event to determine how the government and opposition will make the next move in their power struggle.

Although Yingluck is not at risk of losing her job, some of her populist policies may need a review.

Abhisit will see for himself whether the censure is validation of his leadership or a warning to start preparing for his exit.

-- The Nation 2012-11-06

[asiawatcher]

A fairly biased report here Khun Panananda. Clever journalism is an art, something you have yet to learn.

[Thai at Heart]

The fact that they discuss oratory skills on the ptp side being imported, and now abhisits oratory skills, would seem to suggest that the vast majority of mps can't even string a coherent sentence together.

[nurofiend]

A fairly biased report here Khun Panananda. Clever journalism is an art, something you have yet to learn.

oh c'mon, i don't hear you complaining about the almost daily biased articles that go the other way.

[Thai at Heart]

Should Abhisit fail to outline a sound alternative to Thaksin's legacy, then it's perhaps time for the Democrats to undergo a major overhaul.

This has to be the understatement of the week.

[nurofiend]

It will be interesting, indeed, to see if Abhisit can pin any specific blame on Yingluck after he has ignored her for so long in order to focus on a bigger fish like Thaksin.

i thought it was the other way around?

[OzMick]

I hope he asks her how much money she and members of her government have received from the rice pledging scam, and why.

[whybother]

What a ridiculous article. Abhisit won't come out on top after the debate. There is no smoking gun. Everyone knows what scams are going on and the incompetence of the government, but that won't make any difference to any no-confidence vote.

Abhisit has as much chance as any Democrat to lead them back into power. It's unlikely to happen at the next election though. The Democrats could get an increased vote, but it won't be enough to get them into government (and the only way they can get into government will be with a coalition).

There are other viable choices, including the Democrats, but that won't make enough of the people change their vote.

[ballpoint]

Should Abhisit fail to outline a sound alternative to Thaksin's legacy, then it's perhaps time for the Democrats to undergo a major overhaul.

This has to be the understatement of the week.

Time for the Democrats to embrace the successful policies of the PTP you mean? Such vote winners as buying out popular candidates, paying for votes, beating up opposition canvassers, employing a private army of thugs, lying to the electorate, throwing budgeting and transparency out of the window, and sustained stealing from the Thai people. It would seem that that's what the people vote for, so why don't they pander to their tastes? Why don't they replace their leader with an attractive puppet, their shadow cabinet with a bunch of criminals, and come out next election promising a gold brick for every household, a playstation for every child, five free medical operations a year for every citizen, and a partidge in a pear tree? Maybe because unlike the PTP, who recognise the economic and educational status of the majority of the voters and exploit it while maintaining it, the Democrats still have some principles.

I agree that a zero tolerance to corruption and the automatic suspension, until they stand trial, of any member with a strong accusation of criminal activity made against them, which would necessitate the expulsion of a number of current members, would shine up their appearance, and should be pursued, but, given the tarnished group on display in the other camp, how exactly will that get the votes of the poorly educated masses who vote with their wallets?

[nurofiend]

What a ridiculous article. Abhisit won't come out on top after the debate. There is no smoking gun. Everyone knows what scams are going on and the incompetence of the government, but that won't make any difference to any no-confidence vote.

Abhisit has as much chance as any Democrat to lead them back into power. It's unlikely to happen at the next election though. The Democrats could get an increased vote, but it won't be enough to get them into government (and the only way they can get into government will be with a coalition).

There are other viable choices, including the Democrats, but that won't make enough of the people change their vote.

the only way they could win with a respectable % is if they changed the constituency seats per region of the country.

maybe give bangkok 200 or something

the problem they have is that they are such a historical party that they can't disband and rebrand as something else, they'll always be there.

it would be great if a third, honest, strong and genuinely non corrupt party came up but that's one to debate with the tooth fairy about.

it's a stalemate is what it is.

it's either kick ptp out one way or another or never get a mandate for the foreseeable future.

Edited November 6, 2012 by nurofiend

[Nickymaster]

Majority of Thais like Yingluck, that says enough. Goodluck.

Edited November 6, 2012 by Nickymaster

[Buchholz]

she will, with her wide-eyed innocent look, deflect his attack to someone else.