Yingluck’s plight has become Pheu Thai’s blight
the political wind blows against former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, the chill is being keenly felt by the Pheu Thai Party, Siam Rath Weekly says.
It has become clear the party will not be able to bring Ms Yingluck back as a candidate for prime minister in the next election, according the the article titled Yingluck’s Plight, Pheu Thai’s Quandary.
The May 22 coup last year marks a downturn for the party which dominated Thai politics for more than a decade under the direction of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
After Thaksin’s first election victory in February 2001, the party held state power for 13 years, except for one year and 120 days under the Surayud Chulanont government and two years and 231 days under the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration.
“But its prospects are not looking so bright today,” the article said. “The party has to reinvent itself one more time.”
With the Criminal Court accepting the rice pledging case against Ms Yingluck for consideration, she could face up to 10 years in jail.
“With her new status as a defendant, Ms Yingluck is looking at a series of court appearances unless she chooses to run away overseas like her elder brother,’’ the story said.
No matter which way she chooses, hardship awaits Ms Yingluck.
The same plight will befall the Pheu Thai Party which is facing a crisis of leadership.
With Ms Yingluck trapped in the impeachment ban and court case, the onus is on Pheu Thai party’s executive board and Thaksin to find someone they can promote as a leader and candidate for the next prime minister.
“The party’s executives have run through a list. They are sticking to the same qualifications specified by Thaksin, which are that the person must be one of his relatives and trustworthy. Whether that person is capable of doing the job or not does not matter,’’ the story said.
At first, the name of former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat, who is Thaksin’s brotherin-law, was floated as a possible candidate.
Even before the party could check how people would react to the choice, Mr Somchai was indicted for misconduct relating to the Oct 7, 2008 dispersal of the yellow-shirted People’s Alliance for Democracy protest.
“This made other possible candidates feel they should lie low or face being disqualified like Mr Somchai,’’ the story said.
Topping the list of possible candidates for prime minister are former acting Pheu Thai party leader Chaturon Chaisaeng, former House Speaker Bhokin Bhalakula and former deputy prime minister Pongthep Thepkanchana.
Also in the running are former transport minister Chadchat Sittipunt, former acting PM Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan and former justice minister Chaikasem Nitisiri.
If Mr Somchai’s name is cleared from the crowd dispersal case, he might prevail as a favourite in the last leg, the story said.
A long shot would be Thaksin’s son-inlaw Nattapong Kunakornwong, who seems qualified to be the next leader of the Pheu Thai Party. His only flaw is that he has no political experience.
“Whoever will become Thaksin’s successor will have to face the truth that it will not be easy to control the Pheu Thai Party like in the past,’’ the story said.
“The Shinawatra brand is not as outstanding and well-known as it was before. It is now ‘damaged goods’. More importantly, some Pheu Thai leaders would rather decouple the party from the influence of Thaksin and the Shinawatra family.’’
These people would rather have the Shinawatra family take a break from politics to allow other people in Pheu Thai to grow, the story said.