Thaksin's Sister Yaowapa Big Winner From Faction Merger

[webfact]

Yaowapa big winner from faction merger

PIYANART SRIVALO (@TIK_NT)

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The powerful faction of Yaowapa Wongsawat, sister of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, is expected to become even more formidable when it is joined by the Matchima faction of the Bhum Jai Thai Party.

It will be only a matter of time before the Matchima faction of Somsak Thepsuthin joins Pheu Thai to bolster the Wang Bua Ban faction of Yaowapa.

It has been well known among political circles that Matchima has had good ties with the Wang Bua Ban faction as both were in the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party.

Now Matchima is an alienated faction in Bhum Jai Thai, although Bhum Jai Thai has a new leader and a new secretary-general - Anuthin Charnweerakul and Saksayam Chidchob, respectively.

Earlier, it was reported that big boss Thaksin set a condition for Somsak to join the coalition when he visited Thaksin in Hong Kong on the occasion of the former prime minister's birthday. Thaksin told Somsak he should bring with him all the 34 MPs of Bhum Jai Thai, not just the 7 MPs of Matchima, to join the coalition if he wanted a Cabinet seat.

The condition failed to improve ties between Matchima and the mainstream Bhum Jai Thai. The seven members of Matchima continued to distance themselves from the party and refrained from joining in its activities. They did not even participate in the election of the new party executive board, which was the most important party activity.

The no-show for the party board election was the final straw for the mainstream Bhum Jai Thai. New leader Anuthin, who controls 27 MPs, has reportedly vowed to ignore the Matchima faction.

Anuthin is known to have very good ties with Newin Chidchob, the former de facto leader of Bhum Jai Thai. After Newin announced his departure from politics, Anuthin took control of the party with the mission of restoring ties between Bhum Jai Thai and the big boss and Pheu Thai.

The mission was to win acceptance from the big boss so that Bhum Jai Thai could become a coalition partner after Newin had reportedly made several efforts but failed to normalise ties with his former boss.

Anuthin also has an agenda to restore ties with the coalition leader and join the coalition: he wants to protect the interests of Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction so that it will remain a giant conglomerate with the chance to win several mega subway projects.

As a result, both mainstream Bhum Jai Thai and Matchima want to switch sides - Matchima to join Pheu Thai and Bhum Jai Thai to become a coalition partner.

The seven MPs from Matchima may express their gesture of friendship with Pheu Thai by not signing the censure motion of the Democrat Party later this month.

Given the long ties between Somsak and Yaowapa, Matchima has a strong chance of getting integrated into Pheu Thai. And the chance has apparently increased after Somsak led the seven MPs of his faction to dine with Yaowapa and Somchai Wongsawat on Tuesday evening.

They reportedly discussed the prospects of Matchima joining Pheu Thai. In the initial agreement, Somsak and Anucha Nakasai, both former Thai Rak Thai executives, would first join Pheu Thai as members, paving the way for the seven MPs to join the party later when a chance permits. The laws do not allow MPs to switch parties during their term or they will lose their status.

As part of the agreement, Yaowapa would nominate Somsak as a minister under her quota when the next Cabinet reshuffle takes place. And when the next election is held, the seven MPs of Somsak's faction will enter Pheu Thai's fold. And the agreement requires the seven MPs to refrain from signing the censure motion.

Now, Yaowapa has four ministers under her quota plus a government spokesman. With support from the Matchima faction, her quota will definitely be increased by a Cabinet seat. So, with the presence of Matchima, Yaowapa's faction will definitely become formidable.

-- The Nation 2012-11-08

[CelticBhoy]

A story about Yingluck will always carry a picture.

Not so with Yaowapa, for obvious reasons!

[ratcatcher]

The little guy on the right is unsure whether to join the PTP (Pig's Tit Party).

[webfact]

Bhum Jai Thai head 'won't expel pro-govt MPs'

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Bhum Jai Thai Party leader Anuthin Charnweerakul said yesterday that he would not expel seven MPs of the party's Matchima faction, even though it has become clear that the group supports the ruling Pheu Thai Party.

Anuthin said he would not expel the seven MPs, no matter what happens. "It would be useless to do so," he said.

Matchima leader Somsak Thepsutin led the seven MPs in dining with Yaowapha Wongsawat, who is a sister of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, along with her husband, former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat, on Tuesday evening. Pheu Thai's Science Minister Woravat Auapinyakul also joined the dinner.

A source who attended the dinner meeting said Somsak would soon join Pheu Thai along with Matchima core members who are not MPs. The seven MPs in the group would follow them into the Pheu Thai Party before the next election, the source said.

Anuthin said the incident was a clear sign that the Matchima group would switch to Pheu Thai and join its political activities.

Anuthin said he had no conflicts with Somsak, but had not talked to him in person.

The Bhum Jai Thai leader said he had lost patience with the seven Matchima MPs because they never attended the party's meetings.

"They were not even present on day we elected the party's new executive board - it's too much. It's not necessary to expel them. Newin Chidchob told me to take it easy. If Matchima has a better opportunity, they can leave us," Anuthin said.

-- The Nation 2012-11-08

[FOODLOVER]

Traitors to the party do not get fired, interesting.

[Katipo]

Politics in most countries is a joke, but here it's just a farce. It pains me that my tax dollars go to polishing the knobs of these self serving out of touch imbeciles.

[bigbamboo]

So Yingluck's sister and ex sister in law get to nominate ministers in cabinet reshuffles.

Eat your hearts out you old Spices......girl power really rules in Thailand!

[daboyz1]

I think they're running out of family members. Pretty soon Thaksin's cat will be a party list MP.

[Thai at Heart]

This reads like a mafia novel.

[Buchholz]

A story about Yingluck will always carry a picture.

Not so with Yaowapa, for obvious reasons!

For the sake of consistency, here's a picture of the "big" winner.

As an update, she's no longer banned, but her husband and her daughter remained banned from politics. Her husband for electoral fraud and her daughter for false asset declarations.

Banned TRT MP Yaowapa (far left on sofa) and banned PPP MP Somchai (far right on sofa) with a few friends and family.

[jayjayjayjay]

Yaowapa is a very very nasty piece of work. She demands 5% on all government projects in the north, ruthless and disgusting....

[Pimay1]

A story about Yingluck will always carry a picture.

Not so with Yaowapa, for obvious reasons!

For the sake of consistency, here's a picture of the "big" winner.

As an update, she's no longer banned, but her husband and her daughter remained banned from politics. Her husband for electoral fraud and her daughter for false asset declarations.

Banned TRT MP Yaowapa (far left on sofa) and banned PPP MP Somchai (far right on sofa) with a few friends and family.

Maybe they will create a new political party after PTP runs its course and totally bankrupts Thailand. It could be called BPP Banned Politician Party.

[Chads]

A story about Yingluck will always carry a picture.

Not so with Yaowapa, for obvious reasons!

"You talkin' bout me?"

Edited November 8, 2012 by Chads

[Buchholz]

A story about Yingluck will always carry a picture.

Not so with Yaowapa, for obvious reasons!

"You talkin' bout me?"

Yep, we be talkin' 'bout youse... and the square-headed brother in the picture behind you.

.

[Arkady]

Yoawapa was the one who caused the split in the first place by pissing off Newin when she got too big for her boots while her wimpish husband, Somchai, was PM. Having lost the whole lot three years ago, now is managing coax 7 of them back and needs to promise at least one cabinet seat to someone who has no skills that would be useful in running the country. Some victory!

[focuz]

hatred greed and delusion perfect behavior from the anit-buddhists that run the country buddha help us all!

[Nickymaster]

Yoawapa was the one who caused the split in the first place by pissing off Newin when she got too big for her boots while her wimpish husband, Somchai, was PM. Having lost the whole lot three years ago, now is managing coax 7 of them back and needs to promise at least one cabinet seat to someone who has no skills that would be useful in running the country. Some victory!

Is Yoawapa Somchai's wife? I didn't know that.

Now I understand.

[Buchholz]

Yoawapa was the one who caused the split in the first place by pissing off Newin when she got too big for her boots while her wimpish husband, Somchai, was PM. Having lost the whole lot three years ago, now is managing coax 7 of them back and needs to promise at least one cabinet seat to someone who has no skills that would be useful in running the country. Some victory!

Is Yoawapa Somchai's wife? I didn't know that.

Now I understand.

The historical duo...

I don't think he had much of a choice in the matter as his wife Yaowapa seems to make the command decisions as the proverbial pants wearer in the marriage.

The unique in Thai history, both-banned-from-politics couple, Somchai and Yaowapa

.

[Buchholz]

A story about Yingluck will always carry a picture.

Not so with Yaowapa, for obvious reasons!

For the sake of consistency, here's a picture of the "big" winner.

As an update, she's no longer banned, but her husband and her daughter remained banned from politics. Her husband for electoral fraud and her daughter for false asset declarations.

Banned TRT MP Yaowapa (far left on sofa) and banned PPP MP Somchai (far right on sofa) with a few friends and family.

Apologies...

Photo from defective ImageShack website replaced below...

[bigbamboo]

A story about Yingluck will always carry a picture.

Not so with Yaowapa, for obvious reasons!

For the sake of consistency, here's a picture of the "big" winner.

As an update, she's no longer banned, but her husband and her daughter remained banned from politics. Her husband for electoral fraud and her daughter for false asset declarations.

Banned TRT MP Yaowapa (far left on sofa) and banned PPP MP Somchai (far right on sofa) with a few friends and family.

This reminds me of the cover of that Wings' album............... Band on the Run.