Home > Billionaire Thailand PM gives Satan Sign before phony election
Billionaire Thailand PM gives Satan Sign before phony election
by Open-Publishing - Sunday 2 April 2006Trade-Exchange Rates International Governments Italy
Is the Thai PM telling the world that he is a satan worshipper?
Thailand’s prime minister has a giant fortune, a loving and grateful family and the adoration of some, if not all, of his public.
To that list he can now add what might appear every politician’s dream: an election without an opposition.
Thaksin Shinawatra stands tomorrow in a poll in which his party’s only company on the ballot paper will be a list of fringe groups and "None of the Above" - the box that is his only serious opponent.
But Mr Thaksin, a 56-year-old telecoms billionaire often compared to Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi, is poised to win a landslide he does not want.
He has called the election three years early to renew his mandate after facing weeks of unprecedented protests in the capital Bangkok demanding his resignation over alleged abuse of power.
The main opposition parties are boycotting the polls, complaining that he refused to agree to democratic reforms.
Therefore Mr Thaksin’s ruling Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thais) party is effectively unchallenged for the 500 parliamentary seats. Mr Thaksin said yesterday: "It’s quite strange that some parties are not really supporting democracy just because of fear of losing in the elections.
"That’s not good for democracy. Democracy must be here in Thailand regardless.
"I’m quite sure that the Thai people will turn out to vote strongly but it will be the first time in history that there will be quite a big number of ’no votes’."
The prospect of a virtually single-party parliament, and its implications for legitimacy, is not one he welcomes.
The election may not produce a valid full parliament, and a constitutional crisis could unfold next week.
But Mr Thaksin’s support has fallen since his landslide re-election last year, the first in Thai history, even in the most unlikely of places.
Behind the TRT headquarters a shop sells jackets and shirts emblazoned with his name and the party logo, plus flags and other souvenirs.
Its manager, who did not want to give her name, voted TRT last year. "Me and my family have followed the news and discussed it," she said. "We think we will check the special box."