A significant issue mark hangs over what the government has accomplished in its final year of office, which came to an end in 2024, which was rather confusing.
Following King’s approval, the 35-member Paetongtarn Shinawatra government made its first day in business on September 4, 2013.
It is the next Pheu Thai Party-led leadership since the 2023 general election. It succeeded Srettha Thavisin’s case, which was subsequently found innocent of a total ethical misconduct by appointing former convict to the government minister by the Constitutional Court.
One of Pheu Thai’s two options for excellent minister was Ms. Paetongtarn. The various member was Chaikasem Nitisiri, a former attorney general.
Initial suggestions that Mr. Chaikasem’s name become more reliable than a candidate for the premiership were rejected before a parliamentarian voted on it. Yet, less than 24 hours later, his nomination was dropped after Pheu Thai people held an inner meet where they increasingly selected Ms Paetongtarn, the youngest child of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, touted as the group’s father, to remove Mr Srettha.
Ms Paetongtarn’s fall was easy sailing. The partnership events, largely from the traditional camp that supported the Srettha management, switched their allegiance to her state.
The new, somewhat young, and uneducated prime minister’s capacity to lead state politics was the subject of controversy.
It was obvious that there was no getaway for the state. In fact, the administration’s first real test came days after it was established, when deep North was ravaged by the most dangerous floods in recent years.
Chiang Rai was the worst affected, and the storms could not have come at a worse day for Ms Paetongtarn.
She refrained from visiting flooded places despite being elected by congress as prime minister on August 16 last year because her championship was pending royal support and she had to wait for her league to be officially established.
The president’s emergency reply was called into question by opponents who cried foul over what they described was a “vacuum of major management” needed to overcome disaster-battling challenges, which required the distraction and mobilisation of a national-scale budget, manpower and logistics.
The government’s saving joy was in earlier September when a” spin-off” of Pheu Thai’s iconic digital wallet system was introduced.
The government decided to change its approach and instead of disbursing electronic funds, making available 10, 000 ringgit to state security card holders who are vulnerable and disabled.
According to the Finance Ministry, the first 3 million out of a full of 14.5 million received their budget plan funds on September 4, 2013.
The PromptPay repayment system, which was used to transfer money, attracted criticism for abandoning the online platform for payments and catering to welfare benefits rather than boosting the economy, as the government stated in its statement to parliament.
The government may find itself in trouble for breaking the online cash flyer pledge, according to critics.
Additionally, it was unable to legitimately claim credit for the “welfare” cash flyer because it was rooted in the initial digital wallet structure, which was developed well before Ms. Paetongtarn took the oath of office.
The government made the announcement in first December of last year that it was a good time to update citizens on its accomplishments.
On Dec 12, Ms Paetongtarn outlined the government’s efforts to correspond with its 90th time in business.
Nonetheless, people were left baffled by the premier’s conversation, which was light on successes but strongly focused on programs in store for this season.
According to a cause, it had turned into what appeared to be a campaign rally where a fresh round of claims was being made.
Although Ms. Paetongtarn did describe her first 90 days in business as “easing into the job” and requiring her to get her feet and consider the needs of the population, it is true.
She continued, stating that she was learning how to be a perfect secretary, and that the government’s objectives for the current time were being met with caution.
Her focus was on introducing “tangible options” and achieving tangible results through the implementation of sound plans.
The prime minister even abandoned a strategy to end two years of political and social strife.
She said the government was looking into changing regulations so people can clog waterways to hyperlink to a wider net of water drains channels to combat floods and learned from the storm disasters. Soil from the dredging can also be sold to generate income for households, she suggested.
” This year will be the year of opportunities for people”, she said.
Other goals include preventing persistent PM2.5 fine dust pollution and enabling the sale of local craft beer to break the monopoly of large brewers.
Yet more included reviving the one-district-one-scholarship project initiated during the Thaksin Shinawatra administration in 2004, targeting students wanting to study at leading overseas universities, launching the” Housing for Thais” project to provide high-quality, affordable housing to people with 99-year leases and expanding the 20-baht flat-rate fare on electric trains.
Question marks about unity
Pheu Thai Party heavyweights are thought to have been interested in the energy portfolio, and in recent weeks, there have been more rumors that Energy Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga might be removed in a cabinet reshuffle.
Prior to recently stepping in with a message that may have helped Mr. Pirapan’s mind at ease, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, widely regarded as Pheu Thai’s de-facto leader, saw his position in the government as precarious.
When asked about Mr. Pirapan, the leader of the United Thai Nation Party ( UTN), in Chiang Rai, Thaksin argued in favor of lowering household electricity costs. He added that all monopolies must be abolished to reduce living costs for everyone.
Pirapan: Job safe for now?
Several analysts interpret Thaksin’s remarks as a guarantee that Mr Pirapan’s job is safe, at least for now. And with Mr Pirapan’s position in the government secured, the UTN has a chance of avoiding the same fate as the fragmented Palang Pracharath Party ( PPRP ) and Democrat Party, according to analysts.
During the course of Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s cabinet formation, the PPRP and the Democrats experienced their most severe internal conflicts.
20 MPs from the former PPRP under Gen Prawit Wongsuwon’s leadership enlisted in the Paetongtarn government under the leadership of former PPRP secretary-general Capt Thamanat Prompow, who led the group.
After being granted three cabinet seats, the Thamanat faction eventually disbanded and joined the Kla Dharma Party.
The PPRP’s decision to expel the group after months of tension made it possible for the faction to switch to Kla Dharma while still holding its members ‘ seats. This was thought to be a part of a deal to prevent more damning revelations about the alleged involvement of a female associate of Gen. Prawit in alleged agricultural land encroachment.
The Democrat Party, which was brought in to fill the void left by Gen Prawit’s group, was also polarised, with quite a few old-guard MPs not happy with the party joining the Pheu Thai-led coalition due to different ideologies and policies.
The UTN is unlikely to suffer the same fate as the two other parties, according to Thanaporn Sriyakul, director of the Political and Public Policy Analysis Institute. However, some argued that it might split, especially after the retirement of former prime minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, who founded the organization.
Business and political leaders, as well as party financiers, are reported to be against Mr. Pirapan, who is reportedly opposed to his efforts to reform the energy sector and lower energy prices. This is also thought to be in line with the rumor that he will be fired from the cabinet.
Following former energy minister Supattanapong Punmeechao’s resignation from the party, there was discussion about the possibility that the UTN would lose funding from the energy sector.
Some observers predict that the UTN will shrink or splinter, and that energy companies will shift their support to the Pheu Thai Party as a result of key figures turning their backs on the party.
However, Mr. Thanaporn claimed to be in the process of counting the UTN out.
Despite the fact that Gen Prayut has retired from politics, he anticipates the party to avoid the fragmentation that has plagued others.
Gen Prayut, who was nominated as the party’s” No. 1″ prime ministerial candidate, is credited with helping it secure nearly 5 million party-list votes and win 13 party-list seats in the 2023 general election. This conservative voter base, however, is now being targeted by multiple parties.
Since the last election, the UTN has been seen as lacking unity, comprising three factions led by Mr Pirapan, party secretary-general Akanat Prompan, and another stalwart Suchart Chomklin, who currently serves as deputy commerce minister. Several party MPs reportedly look into partnerships with other political organizations.
The party insists that it carries Gen Prayut’s” DNA,” despite the fact that he has left politics. Anyone who believes the UTN will fade into history after Gen Prayut’s retirement might be mistaken, the analyst said.
As the next election approaches, the UTN will rally around Gen Prayut’s legacy and emphasise its role in upholding his vision to secure voter loyalty, he said.
He added that no party MPs are likely to defect because some may consider forming one of the other political parties, which are already under the control of those with established strongholds.
According to Mr. Thanaporn, the UTN currently oversees two economic portfolios, Mr. Akanat’s Energy Ministry and Mr. Akanat’s Industry Ministry, which give it a chance to present its policies and win over voters.
The UTN may not attract as many wealthy people as some of its previous supporters, but he said it exudes confidence that it can still entice new supporters ahead of the upcoming elections.
” Defection is not easy, and I think the situation at the party is not as bad as some have claimed,” he said.