THE recent shelving of a legislation to open casinos within entertainment complex projects points to a standoff between de facto Pheu Thai boss Thaksin Shinawatra and his daughter/Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra versus de facto Bhumjaithai boss Newin Chidchob and his son MP Chaichanok Chidchob which will likely lead to revenge being taken as their offspring are in the foreground, Naewna newspaper quoted a former MP as saying today (Apr. 16).
Earlier this month Chaichanok took to the House floor to say he ultimately disagrees with the questionable Pheu Thai legislation to open casinos anywhere in Thailand.
He made his rare, resolute comments at parliament in the wake of concerted opposition by varied sectors of society to the highly contentious bill put forward by the Pheu Thai to open casinos under the name of entertainment complex projects in certain tourist spots.
Mr. Thepthai Senapong, former Democrat MP for Nakhon Si Thammarat, said in a video clip he posted on his Facebook page that this standoff definitely involves political stakes for the following reasons:
– Offspring of both Thaksin and Newin hold key position in major political parties: Paetongtarn is Pheu Thai’s leader while Chaichanok is Bhumjaithai’s secretary-general;
– Their dads are behind the scenes;
– The new generation, or Gen, Y, is ready to be political leaders in this era. In the next election if Pheu Thai still fields Paetongtarn as prime minister candidate, Bhumjaithai could also name Chaichanok as its prime minister candidate;
– Both Thaksin and Newin hope their offspring will be the country’s future political leader. As Thaksin has placed his daughter as prime minister Newin likewise also wants Chaichanok to become prime minister or further progress in politics;
– Both Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai have to compete to get as many conservative MPs elected as possible in order to be the core of future government formation and the offspring of the de facto boss would become prime minister.
Thepthai added that as both Thaksin and Newin have pinned their political hopes on their children they will ensure that they are not politically abused. Newin has invested in his son while Thaksin will not allow his daughter to be humiliated in Parliament.
While Thaksin is not today as powerful as when he was prime minister over 20 years ago when Thai Rak Thai had 377 MPs in Parliament, he has a grudge against Newin. Yet he has to be patient and compromise as much as possible but sooner or later he will take revenge, Thepthai said.
CAPTION:
Top and Front Page: De facto Pheu Thai boss Thakin Shinawatra and de facto Bhumjaithai boss Newin Chidchob. Top photo: Sanook.com, Front Page photo: Naewna
First insert: Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra with Bhumhaithai MP Chaichanok Chidchob. Photo: Thai News pix published by Msc.com
Second insert: Former Democrat MP Thepthai Senapong. Photo: Thai Rath
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