Thailand has a new prime minister, the 27th person to hold the position.
The country has been suffering weeks of disruptive protests, aimed at bringing down the “corrupt” government with links to the demonised Thaksin. The Democrats have now managed to form a majority in parliament by offering cash and juicy ministerial positions to groups that were once loyal to Thaksin. One report said:
*A Thai language newspaper reported that large sums of money were being offered to the defectors. The price for parliamentarians has gone up to ‘’40 million baht (1.2 million US dollars) per person’’ to join the Democrat coalition, revealed the ‘Matichon’.
But the former governing party, now under the name of Puea Thai (For Thai), has also joined in this latest display of Thailand’s parliamentarians-for-sale culture. According to ‘The Nation’, an English-language daily, 55 million baht (1.6 million U.S. dollars) is being offered to the defectors ‘’to change their mind.’’
‘’This is so medieval, so backward,’’ a well-connected political insider said, with a hint of disgust in his voice. ‘’It is all because the powerful players behind Thai politics want to win at any cost. Their faces are being revealed in all the scheming that has gone on. Lots of money is on offer. Lots.’’ *
The new Prime Minister is called Abhisit Vejjajiva and of course his party should be pursued on charges of corruption with the same vigour that the military junta set up a tribunal to chase Thaksin and his party. But nothing will happen because the elite and the military now have “their” group in power.
Abhisit is unlikely to last very long, given that his position is based upon support from factions that will take money and power from his party but have no interest in his policies (not that he has many). He will also have a problem appearing relevant to ordinary Thai people having been born in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne* and educated at Eton and Oxford. I give him 3 months.
- Note to those intending witty comments regarding those lucky enough to have been born in Newcastle, Spike was born there. So watch what you say my bonny lad.