Thaksin Denies Yaowapa Will Be A ' Substitute' For The Prime Minister

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POLITICS
Thaksin denies Yaowapa will be a 'substitute' for the PM
The Nation


File photo : Thaksin

BANGKOK: -- Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra phoned in during Tuesday's meeting of MPs from the ruling Pheu Thai Party to offer advice and make his views on issues ranging from peace talks in the deep South and constitutional amendments to the Bt2.2trillion in loans for infrastructure megaprojects.

Thaksin rejected speculation that his sister Yaowapa Wongsawat, who will contest a by election in Chiang Mai next month, would become a "substitute" prime minister.

He said Yaowapa, currently a nonMP but a powerful figure in Pheu Thai, would work more closely with party MPs in Parliament.

Yaowapa completed a five year political ban at the end of May.

Thaksin spoke with the MPs through the Skype Internetbased software application for about 40 minutes. He said he wanted the constitutional amendments to be done by article by article, as required under the current charter. He said the government would risk legal problems if it sought to write an entirely new constitution, and that could lead to its downfall.

"If you don't amend by article, you will never be able to change the Constitution," he was quoted as saying by a source familiar with the MPs' meeting.

Thaksin said the Bt2.2trillion in loans were necessary to improve national infrastructure and help boost the country's gross domestic product (GDP).

The former PM told Pheu Thai MPs to explain to the public about the government's need to issue an executive decree to borrow Bt2.2 trillion to fund the megaprojects. He said critics, particularly from the opposition Democrat Party, only focused on the negative side of the loan plan.

In regard to the insurgency in the deep South, Thaksin said peace talks between Thai authorities and the insurgents were necessary to restore peace in the restive region.

"Talks will lead to peace. We need a continuous process of dialogue to help reduce casualties in the South," he told the MPs.

Thaksin also said he "understood" the prime minister, his younger sister Yingluck, would not reshuffle Cabinet seats that involve Pheu Thai but someone would be appointed by Chart thai Pattana Party to replace deceased Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silapaarcha.

He told MPs not to be scared of political moves against the Pheu Thailed government.

"Let them do the campaign. You just continue doing your work and mingle with the people. We are still government in a democracy," Thaksin said.


-- The Nation 2013-03-20

[Pimay1]

And the dynasty rolls on.

[Moruya]

What does the word "deny" mean nowadays?

[Pimay1]

What does the word "deny" mean nowadays?

PTP definition of deny = confirm.

Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit denied the party's Chiang Mai's constituency 3 MP Kasem Nimmolrat has quit to pave the way for Yaowapa to contest an election and replace him.

[dcutman]

What does the word "deny" mean nowadays?

Confirmation, if Thaksin or Yingluck is saying it.

[Mosha]

Is this the same bloke who said the clan have no shares in PTT?

[Pimay1]

Is this the same bloke who said the clan have no shares in PTT?

That was Noppadol Pattama. Thaksin's legal advisor. But they are all cut from the same bolt of cloth.

[hellodolly]

Does that mean he will let her be the real one?

[Pimay1]

Does that mean he will let her be the real one?

I doubt it seriously but it might depend on how much weight she carries within the party.

[jbrain]

I wonder if they all lay on the floor with there eyes down when the Messiah phones in.

[Stradavarius37]

Just in terms of eye candy - I want Yingluck to stay - If i had to look at Yaowapa's ugly mug every day in the news I would be a sad sad man.

[sscsamui]

You can believe anything a guy with a fork tough says....

[noitom]

This Thai media and Thaksin circus is a disgrace. The rest of the world are taken to be morons for tolerating serious relationships with Thais while this spectacle is going day after day. Phone in after phone in. Thaksin,Thai politicians, and the media most of all are making a laughable circus out of Thailand in front of the world.

[tominbkk]

Looks like the've all been dipping a bit into the ear medicine. What a lousy looking trio they make...

[A Member]

What does the word "deny" mean nowadays?

Usually the opposite of what has been denied especially from Thaksin who is not a liar just a stranger to the truth

[EyesWideOpen]

For a country obsessed with loss of face, this ongoing spectacle with a disposed criminal on the run skyping in orders to the MPs is simply too funny for words. There seems to be some sort of disconnect between the drivel the government feeds the Thai masses, and the reality that is widely disseminated in foreign media. Yingluck saying with a straight face she is in charge, and then these stories come out about Thaksin running the country by remote control..

Somedays I almost feel sorry for her, and I certainly feel sorry for the Thai people ....

[bushwacker]

I have to agree with EyesWideOpen, this constant changing of the answer reminds me of young children in the playground.

[rubl]

Does that mean he will let her be the real one?

I doubt it seriously but it might depend on how much weight she carries within the party.

Before I can even try to answer this question, you need to explain whether I should see a 'figure of speech' in the weight, or carry it literally?

[bigbamboo]

No one will ever be a substitute for the PM .... or CEO or El Presidente or whatever he calls himself now.......but she could be a substitute for the 'real' PM.

[NongKhaiKid]

And the dynasty rolls on.

The only thing Yingluck has going for her is that she is photogenic whereas her older sister is, well...her older sister

[DLock]

It's rare to get a picture of Thaksin and his stunt double in the same picture.

They even got that little flick of hair on their square heads exactly the same.

Awesome.

[kerrysum]

As Cheryl Crow would say,

A CHANGE WILL DO US GOOD...........

BYE...........

[Bagwan]

And the dynasty rolls on.

The only thing Yingluck has going for her is that she is photogenic whereas her older sister is, well...her older sister

The very epitome of diplomacy. How very wise of you. You wouldn't want HarryfromPattaya after your blood would you?

[BrooklynNY]

The whole Taksin clan is not to be trusted, they're full of Scheisse.

Thai politic is all about power and money. They don't care about meager salary. Corruptions are the key in making money doing politic in Thailand. We all know about this anyway.

[Locationthailand]

Of course we don't have to believe this as Thaksin is not involved in Thai politics - he said - really ...

But this : "... Thaksin said the Bt2.2trillion in loans were necessary to improve national infrastructure and help boost the country's gross domestic product ..." is totally laughable. Perhaps the good criminal would like to suggest PTP lays out a transparent itemisation in what areas and what the revenue projections are, based on present facts and how the government can expect to retire the debt it wishes the country to approve...

[Pimay1]

Of course we don't have to believe this as Thaksin is not involved in Thai politics - he said - really ...

But this : "... Thaksin said the Bt2.2trillion in loans were necessary to improve national infrastructure and help boost the country's gross domestic product ..." is totally laughable. Perhaps the good criminal would like to suggest PTP lays out a transparent itemisation in what areas and what the revenue projections are, based on present facts and how the government can expect to retire the debt it wishes the country to approve...

Good point. I would like to see the project ROI on this investment broken down project by project with as you say itemisation of revenue.

[lannarebirth]

Anyone who knows anytrhing about Thaksin will know Yaowapa and Pojaman have been running things pretty much exclusively by themselves. Yingluck is merely a figurehead, and a damn poor one.

[kimamey]

'He said Yaowapa, currently a non MP but a powerful figure in Pheu Thai, would work more closely with party MPs in Parliament.'

Presumably that's because she will actually go there.

[Siripon]

After one year in office the government is supposed to report to Parliament regarding its performance.

1 year nine months have passed and the government have still not announced their achievements.

One reason is they're scared stiff at being grilled about the corrupt ridden rice mortgage scheme.

It's a shame the constitution doesn't penalize them for this deliberate dereliction of duty.

[khaowong1]

For a country obsessed with loss of face, this ongoing spectacle with a disposed criminal on the run skyping in orders to the MPs is simply too funny for words. There seems to be some sort of disconnect between the drivel the government feeds the Thai masses, and the reality that is widely disseminated in foreign media. Yingluck saying with a straight face she is in charge, and then these stories come out about Thaksin running the country by remote control..

Somedays I almost feel sorry for her, and I certainly feel sorry for the Thai people ....

And don't forget that Yaowapa was banned from politics for 5 years. Does no one really think that she won't be back doing the same things again? Of course now she has more power on her side.