Thaksin predicts landslide victory for Pheu Thai Party

Fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is confident Pheu Thai will emerge victorious in the next election.

Thaksin said on his birthday on Thursday that attempts by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to hold onto power was losing momentum and turning the odds in favour of the party he once led.

People in Thailand are suffering due to the higher cost of living, while incomes remain unchanged, he said.

“They [the NCPO] will l ose badly because they don’t understand the hearts of people,” said Thaksin in video clips posted on the Twitter account of his son, Panthongtae, yesterday.

Thaksin’s family, friends and supporters threw a party for him in London on Thursday, which he described as one of the happiest nights of his life.

With the election planned for next year, Thaksin said Pheu Thai would return to power.

“We know what they want. We know what they’re looking for,” he said, referring to the Thai public.

“They are looking for a party with solutions. I believe the Pheu Thai Party is the solution for Thailand,” he added.

Pheu Thai will see a “landslide” victory in the next poll, Thaksin said.

The parties he founded and supported — from Thai Rak Thai to Pheu Thai — have won every election since 2001.

But Pheu Thai and its ally, the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, are facing challenges from the Sam Mitr (Three Allies) group.

The political group, dominated by his former supporters, including Suriya Jungrungreangkij and former industry minister, Somsak Thepsuthin, are trying to lure the party’s former MPs to its side. Mr Somsak said on Thursday the group supported Gen Prayut to continue his premiership.

Thaksin’s sister, Yaopawa, and some Pheu Thai members were in London for his birthday party, joining his other sister Yingluck, who fled a jail sentence in Thailand last year.

Meanwhile, the New Phalang Dhamma Party leader is urging the Election Commission to speed up endorsement of his newly established party, saying the EC’s “extremely-thorough” check of parties’ qualifications will affect plans to field election candidates.

Ravee Matchamadol said his party registered with the EC on May 14 and has already produced all the requested documents, but progress towards endorsement has been slow.

The election watchdog earlier said it expected to finish scrutiny of newly registered parties within 45 days.

However, many parties are being left frustrated as they are still waiting and beginning to worry whether they will have enough time to prepare their election candidates.