Very much exaggerates Thaksin's power. He will never recover from his betrayal of millions of Pheu Thai supporters, by joining with the ruling elite's political parties, and the military to form the current government, in return for his jail-free return home. MFP, or its successor, will continue to grow in popularity until the next election, when the ruling elites will face the unpalatable choice of allowing MFP to form the government, or launching a coup, which will meet absolute rejection by the majority of Thais.
Pita Limjaroenrat and MFP will have to be a necessary sacrifice at this point of time. I don't think Thaksin fears them or is even opposed to them politically, and he's got to know that his political legacy will be secured in the next five years only by successfully winning over young Thai voters to his side.
But the main priority now is breaking the grip of the old military and oligarchic elites on Thai politics, if possible permanently. The Thai military in particular needs to have its presence and influence on Thai politics purged as much as possible, and rendered subordinate if not to the monarchy then certainly to the civilian political elites. And Thaksin can't do that if he doesn't present his faction as the hatchet man on MFP and Pita. The military and oligarchic elites might see Thaksin and Pita/MFP as choosing between the devil and the deep blue sea, but ultimately one way or another they are going to be permanently screwed.
Very much exaggerates Thaksin's power. He will never recover from his betrayal of millions of Pheu Thai supporters, by joining with the ruling elite's political parties, and the military to form the current government, in return for his jail-free return home. MFP, or its successor, will continue to grow in popularity until the next election, when the ruling elites will face the unpalatable choice of allowing MFP to form the government, or launching a coup, which will meet absolute rejection by the majority of Thais.
Pita Limjaroenrat and MFP will have to be a necessary sacrifice at this point of time. I don't think Thaksin fears them or is even opposed to them politically, and he's got to know that his political legacy will be secured in the next five years only by successfully winning over young Thai voters to his side.
But the main priority now is breaking the grip of the old military and oligarchic elites on Thai politics, if possible permanently. The Thai military in particular needs to have its presence and influence on Thai politics purged as much as possible, and rendered subordinate if not to the monarchy then certainly to the civilian political elites. And Thaksin can't do that if he doesn't present his faction as the hatchet man on MFP and Pita. The military and oligarchic elites might see Thaksin and Pita/MFP as choosing between the devil and the deep blue sea, but ultimately one way or another they are going to be permanently screwed.