PUBLISHED : 25 Feb 2024 at 04:00
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin travelled in his new official car to meet convicted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra at the latter’s family mansion in Bangkok’s Bang Phlat district yesterday.
The visit follows Thaksin’s release from prison on parole last Sunday.
At 12.20pm, Mr Srettha arrived in his new 7.59-million-baht Lexus LM 350h at Thaksin’s Chan Song La residence on Soi Charan Sanit Wong 69.
After their lunch together, Mr Srettha told reporters the former PM was happy and in a good mood but was still weak after his recent release from hospital.
The health of the former prime minister has been the subject of endless speculation since he was discharged last Sunday from Police General Hospital where he spent six months in lieu of jail time.
Mr Srettha said they had not spoken about ways the influential 74-year-old ex-premier might help the country.
On Wednesday, Cambodia’s Su‑ preme Privy Council President Hun Sen also paid a visit to Thaksin, a long-time friend.
Before his return to Thailand on Aug 22 last year, Thaksin and his sister Yingluck Shinawatra attended Hun Sen’s 71st birthday party in Phnom Penh on Aug 5.
In 2009, Thaksin was appointed as a Cambodian government adviser.
Pheu Thai Party leader and Thaksin’s youngest daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, was also present, and Hun Sen extended an invitation for her to visit Cambodia on March 14–15 to strengthen their ties further.
Commenting on the invite, Mr Srettha said it was a positive sign of the close relationship between the two countries and he was “ready to support such cordial relations”.
Ever since his release last weekend, political observers have been speculating that Thaksin will return to exerting influence. They anticipate a potential shift in power from Mr Srettha to Thaksin, resulting in a so-called double prime minister phenomenon.
Thaksin has long been seen as the de facto leader of the ruling Pheu Thai Party, which is now led by his daughter Ms Paetongtarn.
Olarn Thinbangtieo, a political science lecturer at Burapha University, said Mr Srettha’s visit to Thaksin shows Thaksin remains an influential figure in politics.
“The prime minister’s visit underscores the so-called double prime minister phenomenon. Everything goes to show Thaksin’s influence in politics [remains strong],” Mr Olarn said.
Senator Seree Suwanpanont said the prime minister, as leader of the executive branch, must be independent and avoid acting in a way that is not acceptable to people.
Thaksin was released from prison on parole last Sunday, after serving half of a one-year prison sentence, reduced from eight years by royal clemency, for conflict of interest and abuse of power in office prior to 2006. He spent the entire six months in Police General Hospital in Bangkok.
On Friday, Pol Col Montri Boonyayothin, deputy chief of the Department of Corrections, said Thaksin was allowed to take on political roles and offer advice while on parole.
Pol Col Montri said the department does not prohibit Thaksin from taking on roles such as a board member or a political adviser of an organisation, though he must meet the qualifications set by any organisation intending to appoint him.