Speculation is rife that our charming Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra may lose her job for incorrectly declaring her assets regarding a loan transaction, and that a member of the Shinawatra clan is being groomed to take her place.
The rumour, which was categorically denied by the Pheu Thai Party, stems from the abrupt resignation of Kasem Nimmonrat as Pheu Thai MP for Chiang Mai's constituency 3.
From left: Prompong Nopparit, Yingluck Shinawatra and Kasem Nimmonarat (Photo by Kitti Woraranchai)
Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit quickly explained that Mr Kasem has health a problem, and then Chiang Mai provincial administration organisation chief Boonlert Burapakorn said Mr Kasem feels he does not fit well with national politics and would like to move to local politics instead.
Readers are free to choose, to believe either Mr Prompong or Mr Boonlert, or to dismiss the two men's statements simply because they are laughable nonsense.
Mr Kasem's resignation leaves a parliamentary seat vacant, which will be filled in a by-election scheduled for April 21.
The timing of his departure is suspicious as it coincides with an investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Commission into Prime Minister Yingluck's assets declaration - a cause of anxiety for the party's heavyweights and, particularly, for the Man in Dubai. They fear she might meet the same fate as former prime minister Samak Sundaravej, who lost the job because of his involvement in a television cooking programme.
Hence, the need to get someone in position as a "reserve prime minister" on standby in the event of a worst case scenario, which is the disqualification of Prime Minister Yingluck by the Constitution Court.
The question is, who should be the reserve prime minister? There are many competent and highly qualified MPs who aspire to step into Ms Yingluck's shoes. But it appears none of them have convinced the Man in Dubai, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, they could be entrusted with that coveted chief executive's post, although many of them are indisputably loyal to him.
Mr Thaksin, it would seem, has learned a few unforgettable, painful lessons from some of his former closest aides, people he once trusted but who, later on, betrayed him. Remember that famous quote from Newin Chidchob, the former leader of Bhumjaithai Party: "Boss (Thaksin), it is over!" when he turned his back on Thaksin to join the junta-installed government.
So, who can be more trusted to take over where Ms Yingluck leaves off if not somebody in his own family?
Yaowapa Wongsawat (File Photo)
It is widely speculated the party's likely candidate in the by-election will be Yaowapa Wongsawat, younger sister of Thaksin and wife of former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat.
The party has, so far, rejected the speculation. But the truth will soon emerge.
The question is why Mrs Yaowapa, or Jeh Daeng as she is popularly known, would suddenly decide to enter national politics now.
She is a very influential power broker and can already pull the strings in the appointment of cabinet ministers and many other key posts in the government bureaucracy, and in some major decision making, without the need of a seat in the House.
Maybe she has an ambitious, hidden political motive?
That reminds me of a famous quote some four decades ago by then national police chief Pol Gen Pao Sriyanon: "There is nothing under the sun that the Thai police cannot do!"
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Writer: Veera PrateepchaikulPosition: Former Editor
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Article source: http://www.thethailandlinks.com/2013/03/19/truth-will-soon-emerge-about-yaowapa/
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