And yet. One might quip that Thaksin eats political threats for breakfast.
Some point to Thaksin’s 76 years of age and say he is running out of time. But one need only look around Southeast Asia to realise that personalities like Thaksin, with fire in their veins, have a long shelf life.
WAITING FOR THE RIGHT OPPORTUNITY
Thaksin will bide his time, waiting for an opportunity to insert himself into the political equation, which is ever-changing in Thailand. More precisely, he will be waiting to catch a whiff of fear among ruling coalition parliamentarians.
Perhaps Mr Anutin might wonder, ever so slightly, whether fulfilling his pledge to dissolve parliament in four months and initiating a path towards constitutional reform – as demanded by the People’s Party (PP) in exchange for its endorsement – would lead to a major victory for the latter at the polls.
In a PP-dominated parliament, to what extent would Mr Anutin still be the main contender for the prime ministerial post? We might see Thaksin walking out of prison before September 2026 if a partnership with Pheu Thai instead of PP is deemed more favourable.
On the other hand, Thaksin will also watch just how long the PP’s faith in Mr Anutin, a staunch royalist, will last. He will likely be there to pick up the pieces if and when that deal falls apart, presenting Pheu Thai as the only “true democratic ally” that the PP needs to advance democratic reforms against the colossal conservative machine.
Source: CNA
