(Bangkok) Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra could advise the government once his prison sentence is over, a cabinet official said on Friday, confirming comments made by the current head of the executive.
“That would be a good thing, because he has six years of experience in government management. It will benefit the country,” Phumtham Wechayachai, Deputy Prime Minister, assured journalists.
The leader, a party executive associated with the Shinawatra family, was invited to react to the statements of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, in an interview with Bloomberg broadcast on Thursday.
In power between 2001 and 2006 before being overthrown by the army, Thaksin can “bring value to the Thai government and people”, launched the head of the executive, on the sidelines of the United Nations general assembly , At New York.
“He was, and probably still is, the most popular prime minister in the history of Thai politics […] It would not be wise of me not to consult his opinion,” explained this political novice from the world of real estate.
Thaksin Shinawatra, a figure as divisive as he is charismatic, returned to Thailand last August, after fifteen years of exile to escape convictions for corruption and abuse of power.
The 74-year-old billionaire spent only a few hours in prison before being transferred to a Bangkok hospital deemed more appropriate due to his health problems.
He benefited from a partial amnesty from the king who agreed to reduce his period of detention from eight to one year.
His family is studying the possibility of requesting early release, but, according to the law, the procedure cannot begin before February.
Thaksin’s return to grace corresponds with the formation of a government dominated by the party associated with his family, Pheu Thai, from which Srettha Thavisin came.
But Pheu Thai had to ally with pro-army groups, defeated in the elections, within a controversial coalition which is considered a gesture towards conservative elites to convince them to tolerate the return of Thaksin, their former black beast.