News.... { Pheu Thai gears toward amnesty }

Pheu Thai gears toward amnesty

Moves are already afoot to bring back Thaksin

        The Pheu Thai Party looks set to consolidate its power as a majority government with more than 300 House seats to smooth the path for exiled former prime minister and its de facto leader Thaksin Shinawatra to return home, a party source said.

        The source said the party will use its numbers in the House of Representatives to ensure smooth passage of legislation to grant amnesty for Thaksin's 2008 corruption conviction, which would enable him to come home.

        The party is now trying to poach MPs from two main factions inside the Bhumjaithai Party led by Somsak Thepsuthin and Sora-at Klinprathum to have the desired number of at least 300 seats.

Four political parties - Chartthaipattana, Chart Pattana Puea Pandin, Phalang Chon Party and Mahachon - have now agreed to join Pheu Thai to form a coalition government with 299 House seats combined.

The source said Pheu Thai is also seeking to control three major ministries - the Foreign, Defence and Interior ministries - which are crucial to bringing Thaksin back to Thailand.

        However, the source said the party would tread carefully and not rush the plan to bring Thaksin back home considering that his opponents would come out in opposition to his return, which could rock the stability of the new government.

        "The party will have to wait for the right timing when the new government becomes strongest with the support of more than 300 House seats to ensure the passage of legislation related to the granting of amnesty is plain sailing," the source said.

        Pheu Thai will also need to be sure that its coalition partners will be given the cabinet seats they desire to guarantee government stability.

        The Bhumjaithai Party, which looks likely to be on the opposition bench, is now facing possible dissolution as there have been complaints of election fraud against the party.

        If Bhumjaithai is dissolved, the situation in parliament would be even more favourable to Pheu Thai as the opposition camp would be too weak while the government would be more stable. Then, it should be the right time to grant amnesty to Thaksin and bring him home, the source said.

        This scenario may take one to two years or even a full four-year term in office to materialise, but it is not too long and is seen to be "worth the wait", the source said.

        Before the right timing comes, the top priority for the new government will be to tackle the economic woes to sustain the government's popularity, the source said.

        The source also said Pheu Thai list MP Mingkwan Saengsuwan has emerged as a strong favourite for the foreign minister portfolio given his tact and finesse, his command of English and his reputation abroad.

ACM Sumet Phomanee, Thaksin's Class 10 friend from the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School, appeared to be a favourite for the defence portfolio while Pol Gen Pracha Promnok, Pheu Thai's chief adviser and its No.5 candidate on the party list, has emerged as the strongest contender for the interior portfolio, the source said.

        Meanwhile, Pheu Thai No.1 list candidate Yingluck Shinawatra, along with leaders and a representative of three political parties, yesterday held a press conference at SC Park Hotel to confirm that they would form a new coalition government to run the country.

        Also present were Maj Gen Sanan Kachornprasart, Chartthaipattana's chief adviser; Wannarat Channukul, leader of Chart Pattana Puea Pandin; and Chao Maneewong, leader of the Phalang Chon Party. The Mahachon Party did not send its representative to attend the press conference.

        Ms Yingluck, potentially Thailand's first female prime minister, said a coalition government with 299 House seats from the five parties would be enough to form a stable government to run the country effectively.

However, Pheu Thai would have to wait for the confirmed election results of the Election Commission before proceeding with the formation of the new coalition government

        She reiterated that Bhumjaithai would not be invited to join the coalition government.

        She said the new government's first task would be to press ahead with a plan to foster national reconciliation.

        It will be left to the Truth for Reconciliation Commission chaired by Kanit na Nakorn to continue with national reconciliation efforts and more independent committees will also be set up to help with the work, Ms Yingluck said.

        The new government would also take urgent steps to fix the economic problems and tackle the rising prices of consumer products, to restore relations with foreign countries, to boost the morale of government officials and to eliminate corruption, she said.

        She said the new government will also hold celebrations to mark His Majesty the King's 84th birthday on Dec 5. 

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I don't know about Politics News very much. Thailand has the first Female Prime Minister is very  Amazing new. But, I think it's misfit, Female isn't good decisions and strictly prohibited. We will wait to look her continue. Is she can possible it?

Finally, I am medium. I am not "Red group" or "Yellow group". Don't complain me.

 Comment to me, please : D