A portrait of Thaksin Shinawatra at one of the gatherings to mark an anniversary of military crackdown that ousted him in May 2010.
July 1, 2023: Will Thaksin Shinawatra be back? Will Pita Limjaroenrat become the next prime minister? Are the two questions deeply related? If they are, is the House speakership tussle the game people who matter play? Does Thaksin remain conservatives’ great enemy or is the situation changing a bit because of Move Forward and the election earthquake and aftershocks? Is Pheu Thai wholeheartedly backing Pita as its leader Cholanan Srikaew tried to reassure the public hours ago?
What are senators thinking now, knowing that even if they decide to support somebody else as prime minister, his or her government may easily collapse in a matter of months, if not weeks? Will the senatorial decision lead to massive protests and will they become something worse?
Which is easier _ Thaksin and Yingluck Shinawatra coming back during a reluctant truce between Pheu Thai and the conservatives, or they return during a Move Forward-led reign in which Pheu Thai will play second fiddle yet remain considerably influential? Will Move Forward’s worst nightmare materialise (the party being isolated and ending up in the opposition)?
This month will answer most of the questions. And will raise more in the process.
Daily updates of domestic and international events by Tulsathit Taptim
