Yingluck is Thaksin's big bet

Coss · May 12, 2011

Abhisit dares Pheu Thai to reveal its prime ministerial candidate while opposition gives hints that it's going to be ex-PM's sister.

Yingluck Shinawatra remained an elusive woman yesterday, and it must have had something to do with fears she could become a political sitting duck. According to sources, plans were being made to help the young, beautiful and successful sister of Thaksin Shinawatra cope with the baptism of fire if she was to enter politics and be the Pheu Thai Party's prime ministerial candidate.

Reports coming out of Pheu Thai over the past two days seemed to confirm that she is poised to become Thailand's first female challenger for the top office. What was holding back an official announcement was, allegedly, an arrangement for her to first get the blessing from party veterans, some of whom would otherwise be upset by being leapfrogged by the young lady.

Pheu Thai has apparently managed to convince Mingkwan Saengsuwan to stay, although he would not be the first name on its party list. Snoh Thienthong has been in the process of joining the party and helping put Pheu Thai's powerful but unorganised northeastern fortress in order. The two men are among those whose support Yingluck would need, or Thaksin's high-stake gamble would be even riskier.

There were reports that party executives had decided on Monday to put her at the top of the party list. Speculation intensified yesterday after old-timer Chawarin Lattasaksiri told reporters Thais should prepare for a life with a female prime minister. The remark prompted an angry reaction - but not denial - from some senior Pheu Thai figures, who reprimanded Chawarin for behaving "improperly".

Party leader Yongyuth Wichaidit said "everything will become clear" within this week, adding that he would himself announce the name of the top party-list candidate. That, however, is not a surprising or stunning promise, as Pheu Thai will have to register its party-list candidates with the Election Commission next week, anyway.

Yingluck could be a double-edged sword for Pheu Thai. As an attractive and successful young woman, she would sex up its campaign and blunt the Democrats' advantage of having the Oxford-graduate, handsome Abhisit as the title-holder. As Thaksin's sister, she will be seen as his nominee, representing his desperate, last-ditch effort to grab back power.

Thaksin will not only be throwing his darling sister into the political fray, but also adding new risks to what remains of his business empire in Thailand. Yingluck will have to relinquish, or appear to relinquish, her business connections if she is to become a politician. For someone with a vast and long-time business history, that's not an easy thing to do, as Thaksin himself can testify.

The Democrats must have been sniffing around already. To give her a glimpse of what lies ahead, one of the MPs - Boonyod Sukthinthai - took a jab at her personal life. With a woman, that can be perceived as chauvinistic and can backfire, but Thaksin's political rivals will not stop at that, and business transactions or stock movements will certainly be their real targets.

Knowing Thaksin's reluctance, Abhisit yesterday challenged Pheu Thai to unveil its prime ministerial contender. "The Thai people have the right to know who are volunteering to serve them," said the Democrat leader, reminding Thaksin of his pledge to reveal Pheu Thai's No 1 party-list candidate once the House of Representatives has been dissolved.

As with all big gambles, the stakes will be laid down at the last minute. Thaksin cannot lose this election, so it must be "all in". The only problem is Yingluck is not a chip that can be retrieved when a lucrative gold or diamond mine is harvested. Laying her down will give new meaning to "family business", and family business was where it all began.

Link