By Thai Newsroom Reporters
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER SOMSAK Thepsuthin today (Feb.16) downplayed criticism that Thailand might be virtually, simultaneously run by two prime ministers – the current Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Somsak confirmed Srettha who lawfully performs as head of government will not be overruled by anyone else but declined to confirm or deny whether Thaksin, the de facto Pheu Thai boss-cum-convict, might probably put his hands on any government affairs or give out orders to any members of cabinet and other government officials, albeit in behind-the-scenes fashion, after he has been released on parole on the upcoming Sunday.
The Pheu Thai-backed Srettha who had been quietly promoted to elected premiership by Thaksin’s sister/deposed prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra remained tight-lipped as to whether he might possibly be overshadowed by her brother on parole.
The de facto Pheu Thai boss-cum-convict who is largely expected to manipulate government affairs and take control of cabinet members, albeit in surreptitious, hush-hush fashion, since he allegedly already took part in the country’s power play literally from a private ward of Police Hospital shortly after he had returned from self-exile abroad last August.
Somsak who dampened comments recently made by Move Forward leader Chaithawat Tulathon that the country might be virtually run by two prime ministers at the same time quoted Srettha as saying he will by no means reshuffle his cabinet anytime soon following Sunday’s parole granted to the de facto Pheu Thai boss-cum-convict.
Thaksin who will be discharged from Police Hospital and likely return to his Chan Song Lah residence on the Thonburi side of Bangkok will be free to travel anywhere in the country without an EM ankle bracelet.
Many Pheu Thai members and others are more or less expected to visit Thaksin at his home after he has spent a six-month period at Police Hospital for mystery-shrouded “illnesses” to live out roughly half of his curtailed, one-year sentence outside of a prison.
Pheu Thai leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of the de facto party boss-cum-convict, categorically denied she held an informal talk with the prime minister at Government House today to discuss matters pertaining to her father’s release on parole on the upcoming Sunday.
CAPTIONS:
Top and Front Page: De facto Pheu Thai boss Thaksin Shinawatra, left, and Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, right. Both photos: Thai Rath
Insert: Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsuthin. Top photo: Matichon Weekly,
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