EDITORIAL
Is the stage being set for Sudarat's return?
The Nation

Her political resurgence may be around the corner, if she can get Thaksin's wholehearted backing

BANGKOK: -- After lying dormant for a few years, Sudarat Keyuraphan appears to be returning to the limelight. There have been rumours and reports, and they all link her to big political roles in the foreseeable future. She has denied some of them, but been reticent about the others. There is no doubt that something is cooking behind the scenes, although we cannot be certain what it is.

There are two main reasons why Sudarat's name has popped up in political columns or analyses lately. The first is the political and economic storms battling the military-installed government.

The second is the legal and constitutional setbacks for the Shinawatras which, when combined with other factors, make a triumphant return to politics highly unlikely.

The Pheu Thai camp has virtually nobody else. Phongthep Thepkanjana is a decent "new blood" and Chaturon Chaisaeng is quite popular among hardcore red shirts, but they lack that "sexy" or romantic element required to make a big step up politically.

Sudarat, on the other hand, is an appealing choice, not least because she can be Pheu Thai’s next "iron lady".

Recent rumours said Sudarat had been involved in secret negotiations on a proposal to set up a national unity government that would feature cooperation between mainstream political parties and the military junta. She strongly denied it, saying being in an administrative body backed by coup-makers was against her principles. The rumour, however, underscored her perceived status as someone who could "bridge" the Thaksin camp and the military.

Another speculation made her the heir apparent of Thaksin Shinawatra, who has seen the political fortunes of his close family members take a turn for the worse. Yingluck Shinawatra has already been impeached by the military-appointed legislature and is facing a court trial over the controversial rice-pledging scheme. Already, she is staring at a life-long ban from politics, and a guilty verdict by the court could be the final nail in her coffin.

Another woman related to Thaksin, Yaowapa Wongsawat, is thought to remain influential but she can't take centre stage for obvious reasons. All these leave one name as the most sensible candidate to keep the Pheu Thai flying - Sudarat.

Her strengths have to do with an image that is close enough to Thaksin to gain respect from those who admire him, but distant enough from him to get acceptance from his arch-enemies. Her weaknesses include her questionable ties with people surrounding Thaksin. They reportedly don't like her, and the fact that he likes her.

Apart from the Shinawatras, some other Pheu Thai heavyweights are known to envy her.

Analysts say Sudarat's political star is pretty much tied to how serious Thaksin's backing for her is. No-nonsense backing can override the "envy" factor and keep the Pheu Thai camp from falling apart and make everyone rally behind her. But unless support from Thaksin is clear-cut, Sudarat's political leadership can be shaky and short-lived.

The irony is, therefore, obvious. Sudarat's political resurgence can more or less "normalise" politics, bringing the "fight" back to the level it's supposed to be on. However, it will be very difficult for her to do so without some substantial help from someone directly involved in the cutthroat political showdown that has hampered Thailand for so many years.

Whatever happens next, Sudarat is a political figure to watch. She was known as one of the charismatic politicians, but that was before things started to go downhill for Thailand.

Whether the stage is being set for her remarkable return must be one of the most intriguing political questions at present.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Is-the-stage-being-set-for-Sudarats-return-30265751.html


-- The Nation 2015-08-03

Iron Lady??

For those that don't know much about her....https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudarat_Keyuraphan

For those that don't know much about her....https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudarat_Keyuraphan

Wikipedia is so well-informed. The TVF posters know the score of how she accumulated Baht 851 million in wealth. http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/85171-one-of-the-most-vile-females-in-thailand/

If the Shinawatra clan nominates Sudarat as a proxy, it will be just a matter of time before she goes off the reservation.

They know enough to stick with "yaht-gahn" in high positions.

Another brain dead bimbo puppet in charge of PTP. Message to Big T If this is the best you've got left to choose from you're [deleted]

Iron Lady??

It was the "sexy" reference that made me spray coffee across the table.

Again.

Iron Lady??

It was the "sexy" reference that made me spray coffee across the table.

Again.

She is married to a very wealthy Thai Chinese building magnate..... She made a fortune when she was the minister for health in Thaksins government... No way this uni grad can be the face of PTP. She will be cannon fodder... Stay home with your children young lady.... enjoy your life...!

Iron Lady??

It was the "sexy" reference that made me spray coffee across the table.

Again.

Another iron lady - when will they get the first?

Would she be suitable to be another puppet pretend proxy PM? She was in TRT with the boss, acquired a lot of wealth with the boss, ethnic Chinese, been lying low - all depends on how much the boss thinks she can be trusted to do as told. Wasn't a problem with Yingluck. She wasn't interested in going to parliament, doing the job and had nothing to say or think anyway. But this lady might be different and has her own family interests to promote.

Nah, probably better to stick with another direct family member.

I think that IF Suderat were to become the leader of Thaksin's next generation political partyshw will be far more of her own woman thatn Thaksin's proxy, clone or whatever.

I also think that she will skip the next election but be visible because whichever party gets to take over from the present government is in for a good deal of problems.

She could come to the rescue in the future because by then Thaksin's spectre will be laid to rest.

Iron Lady??

It was the "sexy" reference that made me spray coffee across the table.

Again.

She is married to a very wealthy Thai Chinese building magnate..... She made a fortune when she was the minister for health in Thaksins government... No way this uni grad can be the face of PTP. She will be cannon fodder... Stay home with your children young lady.... enjoy your life...!

She didn't accumulate her wealth from her husband. She is worth more than 10 times what her husband is worth, meaning she reaped her riches from the national trough.

......................"Her strengths have to do with an image that is close enough to Thaksin to gain respect from those who admire him, but distant enough from him to get acceptance from his arch-enemies."........................

I doubt if either of those statements hold any truth.

She has another claim to 'fame' which has not been mentioned.

She was health minister when the bird flu epidemic spread to Thailand and she first tried to hush it up only to find it spreading because of TRT's (her) inaction. Not the most truthful person but that never was a drawback to a politician & some would say a bonus in a T party (Thai edition).

For those that don't know much about her....https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudarat_Keyuraphan

Wikipedia is so well-informed. The TVF posters know the score of how she accumulated Baht 851 million in wealth. http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/85171-one-of-the-most-vile-females-in-thailand/

"The TVF posters know the score of how she accumulated Baht 851 million in wealth"

I don't, prey tell!

Iron Lady??

It was the "sexy" reference that made me spray coffee across the table.

Again.

She is married to a very wealthy Thai Chinese building magnate..... She made a fortune when she was the minister for health in Thaksins government... No way this uni grad can be the face of PTP. She will be cannon fodder... Stay home with your children young lady.... enjoy your life...!

She didn't accumulate her wealth from her husband. She is worth more than 10 times what her husband is worth, meaning she reaped her riches from the national trough.

"meaning she reaped her riches from the national trough."

An unfounded accusation! unless of course, you can prove otherwise?

......................"Her strengths have to do with an image that is close enough to Thaksin to gain respect from those who admire him, but distant enough from him to get acceptance from his arch-enemies."........................

I doubt if either of those statements hold any truth.

Well as someone who certainly doesn't "hold any truth", you should know.

For those that don't know much about her....https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudarat_Keyuraphan

Wikipedia is so well-informed. The TVF posters know the score of how she accumulated Baht 851 million in wealth. http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/85171-one-of-the-most-vile-females-in-thailand/

"The TVF posters know the score of how she accumulated Baht 851 million in wealth"

I don't, prey tell!

Google "Sudarat Thai Ministry of Commerce kickbacks" It's public record, and was never investigated.