Former Prime Minister Thaksin’s Daughter Runs for Thai Prime Minister in Key Election

[Bangkok = Taiki Fujikawa]The Thai House of Representatives (500 seats) general election, which will be voted on the 14th, will set former Prime Minister Thaksin’s second daughter Peetong Tan (36) as one of the candidates for the prime minister, and the largest opposition party, Thailand, aiming to regain power. The Singhao Party entered the final stage with the upper hand. However, it is difficult for the party to win a majority in both houses of Congress, and the possibility of forming a coalition government with a pro-military party has emerged.

According to a survey released by the Thai National Institute for Development Administration (NIDA) on the 3rd, asking “who is suitable for the next prime minister”, Pita (42), leader of the second opposition Progressive Party, won the top with 35.44% of the support. stood. Patong Thanh, who had held the top spot until now, slipped to second place with 29.2%, while Prime Minister Prayuth Prayut (69) was third with 14.84%.

As for political party approval ratings, the Pheu Thai Party has maintained an approval rating of around 38%, even though it has slowed down since the previous survey.

On the other hand, the pro-military forces remain divided, and an uphill battle is expected. In January, Prime Minister Prayuth split from the largest ruling party, the People’s State Power Party (PPRP), which had supported the government, and intends to continue in office with the new party, the United Thai Unity and Nation Building Party (UTN), which was launched by his supporters. expressed. The PPRP chose its leader, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit, as its candidate for prime minister.

Even if the Pheu Thai Party wins a majority in the lower house, the election of prime minister will still be voted for by MPs and 250 senators effectively appointed by the military government in 2019. It will be difficult for the Pheu Thai Party to secure a majority in both houses of parliament, and a coalition government is likely.

Peetong Tan gave birth to her second child, a boy, on the 1st of this month. Thaksin, who is in exile, posted on Twitter, “Please allow me to come back to take care of his grandchildren.”

In order for the Pheu Thai Party to bring Thaksin back home, it will be difficult to form a coalition with the Progressive Party, which advocates radical policies such as the abolition of conscription and the revision of the lese-majeste law. The Pheu Thai Party has formed a coalition with the PPRP, and it has been pointed out that of the three candidates for prime minister, Mr. Setter, the former president of a major real estate development company, is likely to be the most likely candidate, rather than Mr. Phae Thong Tan, who is more likely to be accepted by conservatives such as pro-military forces. out.