Thaksin closes the door on ex-spouse Potjaman becoming party leader

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

FORMER PRIME MINISTER Thaksin Shinawatra has ruled out the possibility of his former spouse Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra becoming top leader of the Pheu Thai Party.

In yesterday’s video conference at a Bangkok residence of former energy minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisan, the deposed premier categorically dismissed the possibility of Khunying Potjaman being named leader of the Pheu Thai Party as strongly suggested by a deputy leader of the opposition party.

Ex-Pheu Thai MP Kriang Kantinand remarked that Thaksin’s ex-spouse could practically consolidate the Pheu Thai Party to the extent that many former partisan members and current MPs who may have earlier defected will finally rejoin the party.

Kriang insisted that many former MPs and current MPs who earlier belonged to the dissolved Thai Rak Thai and People’s Power parties might probably come back and contest the next election under the Pheu Thai banner only if Khunying Potjaman was named the party’s leader, but who is yet to take charge of directing its electoral campaigns in the nationwide race to parliament.

Nevertheless, Thaksin responded that Khunying will definitely never accept any political positions. ”Khunying Potjaman dislikes politics the most and she is already too old to get involved in it.

”She will never know how to deliver speeches in the presence of many people. Though she could preside over a meeting, she cannot deliver a campaign speech,” Thaksin told a group of Pheu Thai MPs gathering for Kriang’s birthday party at Pongsak’s residence.

The Pheu Thai Party, currently led by opposition leader Sompong Amornvivat, is widely speculated to name a trio of candidates for head of a post-election government, including real estate businessman Settha Taweesin, viewed as personally close to deposed woman premier Yingluck Shinawatra, and Thaksin’s son-in-law Nattapong Kunakornwong.

The Pheu Thai Party has so far turned out to be the only major one which is yet to officially name a candidate for premier in the next election since all others already have.

CAPTIONS:

Top: Former premier Thaksin Shinawatra with his ex-spouse Khunying Potjaman before their divorce. Photo: http://www.thaksinofficial.com

Home Page: Former premier Thaksin. Photo: Siam Rath

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