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Thaksin Shinawatra Goes into Mini Donald Trump Mode 

Gaslighting, grandstanding, racism, and sexism, Thaksin Shinawatra has been on a rampage. Over the past few months, the former prime minister has been on tour to campaign for the Pheu Thai Party’s candidates in provincial elections. He gaslit government critics on stage and in interviews, including ordinary citizens with a social media account and grievances to air. He also threatened to bring lawsuits against some individuals. His fighting words included:

“Pathetic.”

“Barking.” 

“Suffering from stress.” 

“They curse everyone; the only ones left are their parents.” 

“Should go hang themselves.” 

“Their husbands or wives don’t love them.” 

While Donald Trump boldly discussed taking over Greenland, Panama Canal, and perhaps even Canada, Thaksin proudly claimed:

“I’m about to tell Myanmar and Cambodia to handle their call center scams and mule accounts. If they can’t handle it, I will ask for permission to send in people to handle it. Furthermore, I’ve told the KNU [Karen National Union] and Myanmar to handle things around Myawaddy. If they don’t have the forces to do it, I will send in the forces to do it.” 

Thaksin also harbors ambitions to see Thai women become international models. To that end, he compared the physical traits of Africans (people of a continent with diverse ethnicities) and Thais (people of a country with diverse ethnicities) to perpetuate racist stereotypes and reduce women to objects of aesthetic value:

“I went to live abroad, and I thought to myself… African people, they are so black… and their noses are so flat… difficult to breathe… but apparently, they’re hired to be world-class models, making millions… but our people are better looking… don’t need a nose job… don’t need to add jawline [facial contouring]… don’t need plastic surgery… don’t need to add milk [breast implants]…  we should find our people with a good personality, train them and send them to compete as world-class models…”

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra defended her father’s statements, saying they are not “prejudicial.” Instead, his statements meant to “empower.”

Furthermore, speaking to investors at a local business forum, he stated that once he is cleared of Article 112 charges (the lese majeste law), he will be able to travel abroad to secure foreign investments for Thailand, as global investors have confidence in him and his abilities.

Thailand’s Superman Politics 

The heated rhetoric of late are not without rationale, though it may be misplaced. Bold claims and feisty diatribes have been successful for Trump, so why not for Thaksin? After all, Thaksin has never been one to mince words or shy from boisterous claims. 

In 2003, responding to international condemnation for the extrajudicial killing in his war on drugs that resulted in some 2,300 dead people, Thaksin said to local reporters, “The UN is not my father.” In Thailand, these are considered aggressive words to show contempt and disdain. In addition, during the 2010 Red Shirt protests, he stated: “If and when there’s a sound of gunfire, I will come to lead my brothers and sisters to march into Bangkok.” He showed up 14 years later. 

In the past, Thaksin has been compared to various national leaders. Opponents likened him to Italy’s former president, Silvio Berlusconi, a tycoon who entered politics and was marred by corruption scandals. With the 2006 military coup and his self-imposed exile, supporters referred to him as Thailand’s own Nelson Mandela, a freedom fighter. Now, with the rise of “strongman/woman” politicians elsewhere, such as Trump in the US, Giorgia Meloni in Italy, and Dick Schoof in the Netherlands, Thaksin appears to be positioning himself as Thailand’s superman.

In times of persisting political polarization, economic woes, and social discontent, culturally, we Thais often look to a ‘Superman’ to rescue us. However, there’s one technical problem. Thaksin isn’t the prime minister. He’s the father of the prime minister. Nonetheless, it’s generally accepted that he calls the shots. 

Electoral Implications 

Beyond rhetoric, Thaksin’s movement has substantial political implications. It is widely reported that Thaksin’s return to Thailand, without serving any prison time, is due to a deal between him and those who ousted him from power in the first place. That is, for Pheu Thai to form a coalition government with conservative and pro-military parties to prevent the reformist People’s Party from coming to power.

The deal must hold if Thaksin also wants to bring his sister, former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, back to Thailand without serving prison time. The deal must also be held through the next General Election in 2027. The People’s Party targets 270 out of 500 possible MP seats, a convincing majority that would enable the party to implement its reform policies. Thaksin must prevent this outcome. In fact, he wouldn’t want to settle for Pheu Thai taking second place and forming a bickering coalition like in the 2023 elections. He wants an outright victory to have firm control of the government. 

The elections for the chairs and members of the Provincial Administrative Organization (POA) held nationwide on February 1 of this year are significant. The POA controls the budget in each province and is responsible for local development. Traditionally, local powerful families with deep patronage ties to major political parties control the seats. Except for the 2023 elections, which the People’s Party won, these powerful families that control the POA have traditionally been instrumental in delivering their patrons to the prime minister’s seat. Thaksin hopes for the same.  

The People’s Party winning a substantial number of seats will hurt Pheu Thai in the General Election, damage Thaksin’s reputation as a man who can “get things done” and decrease his bargaining power with those who allowed his return to Thailand. Moreover, Pheu Thai has to contend with its second-largest coalition partner, the Bhumjaithai Party.  Both are major players with patronage networks nationwide. Joining forces means they could potentially beat the People’s Party at the polls in 2027. However, the fight for the prime minister’s seat would be between Thaksin’s daughter and Bhumjaithai leader, Anutin Charnvirakul.

Therefore, the POA elections will be the first real test of Thaksin’s ability to compete against the People’s Party and the Bhumjaithai Party. Whether gaslighting, grandstanding, racism, and sexism remain effective in helping his candidates at the polls remains to be seen.

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