Thaksin Reappears in Thai Scenario

With Move Forward stalled, Pheu Thai sees its chance

With Thailand’s military-appointed Senate having sabotaged the march to power of reform candidate Pita Limjaroenrat and his youth-backed Move Forward Party, which shocked the nation by coming almost from nowhere to win the most votes in the country’s May 14 national election, the spotlight may now be turning onto Thaksin Shinawatra, the 73-year-old former premier who was ousted from power and forced into exile in 2006.

He is said to be returning to Thailand on July 27, daring arrest just a day before King Rama 10’s 71^st birthday, in the expectation there will be a Pheu Thai government to greet him. That may be problematic. Thaksin has announced 19 times throughout his years of exile that he wants to return home.

But Pita, who rode a political tidal wave of 151 seats into the lead in May, trouncing military candidates, has stalled 51 votes short of the 375 his eight-party coalition needs from both houses of the bicameral legislature. He appears unlikely to advance. The upper house of 250 senators, appointed by the military under the 2019 constitution as a bulwark against democratic rule, is in the way…

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