Former PM Thaksin Speaks For Pheu Thai And Constitutional Reform

Exiled controversial former PM Thaksin gave an interview with Nikkei on the weekend supporting Pheu Thai, who are well ahead in opinion polls, and saying his daughter Paetongtarn would be a better PM than him. He also called for constitutional reform to return democracy fully to the country. Dr Prommin, Thaksin’s former secretary-general, and senior Pheu Thai member has made it clear that the party doesn’t intend to bring Thaksin back to Thailand.

• The elections to be held on May 14 are being fought between pro-democracy and establishment forces.
• Thaksin would like to return to Thailand one day but that he wouldn’t seek an amnesty.
• “Today, people have only one thought, and that is to get rid of this government. They want a change, and voters will vote for the party with the right policies, which will probably be Pheu Thai,” Thaksin said. He believes that if Pheu Thai wins over half of the vote, some of the military-appointed senators may vote for one of their candidates as PM.
• He said that his daughter Paetongtarn was “more mature” than he thought and “I think she would be better than me,” he said. “She is more calm. I may be too aggressive.”
  - The Australian