Abhisit, A Better Thaksin?
Much has been said about the Abhisit I government being a plagiarism of the recent shadow governments of Thaksin who remains at the center of it all. Not only will Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva continue with Thaksin’s weekly Sunday address on TV – will he grant a slot to the opposition as he demanded under Thaksin? -, Abhisit will extend the populist stimulus measures drawn by Thaksin’s proxy government, such as free water and electricity and subsidized bus and train rides for the poor.
Meanwhile Abhisit’s cabinet has approved an additional economic stimulus package valued at about 300 billion baht to be spent on increasing agricultural prices and supporting free education programs. 300 billion baht by the way is a whiff more than the damages caused by the yellow airport blockades, as a study by the Bank of Thailand reveals. That tells you what the blockade means in real economic terms. 300 vs. 290 billion baht, a rather accidental, but nevertheless telling parallel.
Have I missed something? I’m still waiting for something truly original coming out of the Abhisit government who has to compromise himself alongside old forces and faces we know from the previous governments. Abhisit is furthermore copying his predecessors Samak and Somchai who had to flee the yellow sea: The “switch” (read: escape) of the Asean summit to Hua Hin to a location of royal convalescence and retreat is not a shrewd move, it’s a worrying move. I have the feeling the summit’s circumstances offer all the ingredients to becoming a major embarrassment for Abhisit.
The opposition will seize the chance of the limelight. Again, I’m still more repulsed by the old than the new beast. Let’s not forget how difficult life was for so many under Thaksin. But how do we call the new beast we ended up with? Abhisin? Thaksit? A marionette maybe?
Again, what’s different between then and now? I’m mainly seeing one and a similar thing. Old wine in a new bottle, really, the Democrat’s seven-point policy. Inheriting in essence a copy of Thaksin’s populist policies.
Abhisit simply extend what the previous governments introduced – governments who were toppled to the Democrat party’s silent delight. Now they’re even more Catholic than the pope – while denying that they are promoting Thaksin’s populist policies.
The sacrifices we all had to make in the name of democracy are not worth it. So far.
Politics around here have become a massive double standard, now represented by a prime minister who is haunted by the very vulgar ghosts he promised to exorcize. The yellows demand from the reds what they were never willing to give to the reds, while the reds counter the yellows with uncreative yellowish tactics.
On top of it those in power now and some military leadership ask for reconciliation – something they were not even willing to consider just some weeks ago.
Nothing can come as a surprise anymore in a country where some throw ping pong bombs to voice political dissatisfaction and nothing happens, while others pelt eggs and have to fear prosecution – because Thai police say an egg is a weapon.
I’m not saying. I’m just smiling.
You doin’ some photoshop voodoo or somethin’?
What are you implying stefan!
You mean to better mix Abhisit’s face into Thaksin’s head?
BangkokDan
Well both really; the hex is the key player tho’, never mind what we are given to seeing.
300 billion baht of taxpayers money … where will it go?
The PPP government decided on 100bln … so why 300bln now?
Part of the increase is needed due to delays and damage caused by the senior military and the rich families and their agents the PAD … maybe 200bln now …
And the extra 100bln is the payoff to the PAD private and military supporters for getting their slave government into power.
The PAD said they were working to rid the government of corruption … Hahahahah, fooled a lot of people that went along and donated … hahahaha.
Either you want to be governed by a weak government that owes its existence to the senior military and rich families – or you want all the people of Thailand to be able to choose their government.
To survive, the military/rich families government must do what the elite want, they can promise everything but are not free to implement anything that the elite do not want.
The democratically elected government must do what the people of Thailand want otherwise the people will punish them at the next election.
Which government do you want?
The question is not only where the 300 billion baht will go David, but where do the additional 200 billion come from.
On this point I have to sympathize with former finance minister Suchart who said that the new administration did not have the money and did not know to get it.
You don’t just find that amount of money.
What still puzzles me the most though is why the previous government didn’t call for snap elections.
BangkokDan
Indeed, it was a major mistake from Thaksin (sorry Samak, sorry Somchai, sorry whatever whoever) to not dissolve the House … Probably a mistake due to their overconfidence …
The Frankenstein Coalition was unlikely. But it happened. A perfect black swan.
Anyway. Now we have Abhisit … and we can hear already the first notes of the … disenchantment music.
Wasn’t that long, huh?
I would like to add that so far their so-called “policies” are totally opaque and confused …
Every day, they come up with a new scheme, new figures for the boost/bailout package (100 billion? 300? Who cares?), and new ideas like sent like weather balloons (“cut taxes,” yes on Monday, maybe on Tuesday, perhaps on Wednesday, we will see on Thursday … start again the process the following week).
The pilot has obviously jumped from the airplane cockpit.
In other words, they are clueless.
And we are going to enjoy a nice free fall.
Got a parachute?
Why no snap elections?
Someone must have held a knife to someone’s throat.
It’s a total, total mess with no end in sight. Take a deep breath.
I question how the money will be spent. The airport closure caused a drop in tourist. How will the money help with lost in tourist revenue? Is the money going to bail out wealthy business owners? How will the bailout help the average Joe when there are no tourist? It is like throwing money at a sinking ship.
I highly question whether this large sum of money will be spent transparently.
Thai Crisis, I have seen your charts, and while truly admirable, mostly they look like umbrellas in various states of undress. I hope your final umbrella/autopsy on Thailand’s statistical future will have enough meat on it to float your boat, or at least provide you a soft landing. I, by contrast, do not have a parachute of any useful design. Sincerely, a fellow.
Hi guys …
I also think the PPP should have called a snap election but
a) the PAD, senior military and rich families may not have allowed it to go ahead, by using the courts or by brute force
b) it would not have solved the problem … the PAD, senior military and rich families in collusion with the courts are the real problem
And forcing them to accept democratic action by all the people of Thailand requires continual ongoing pressure … like what is happening now.
It’s really sad for Thailand that this is all happening while the global financial system is decaying, it means more people will be hurt.
Not related whatsoever whoopla.
The by-election is on national level to refill parliament, the gubernatorial ballot here in Bangkok is just held coincidentally on the same day.
The Democrats’ candidate though lough looks like a sure ticket here in Bangkok – so somehow the two ballots are kinda connected.
BangkokDan aka Senior Banger aka Justanotherbanger
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