Paroled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra vowed yesterday to win back all the House seats in Nonthaburi province which it lost to the Move Forward party in last year’s general election.
Thaksin did not mention Move Forward by name, but said “In the last general election, all parliament seats in Nonthaburi were taken from us, but we will win them back. It is our mission and we have to do it for the country.”
Nonthaburi, a province adjacent to Bangkok, had been a stronghold of Thaksin’s now-defunct Thai Rak Thai party and subsequently the Pheu Thai party, which Thaksin founded. In the general election in May last year, Move Forward swept all eight House seats in the province.
Thaksin was speaking after making a surprise attendance at the birthday party of Somnuek Thanadechakul, mayor of Nonthaburi, whom Thaksin described as a long-time ally and friend. Somnuek turned 79.
Thaksin ended his long self-imposed exile in August last year, citing a wish to return to Thailand to be with his children and grandchildren.
He was granted parole on three corruption convictions in February, after meeting the criteria of being old and suffering a grave illness.
He seems, however, to be busy traveling and is believed to be behind the political moves of the ruling Pheu Thai party.
Thaksin presented Somnuek with a bouquet of red roses when he arrived at the restaurant venue of the birthday party, which was being attended by local and national politicians, including Nattawut Saikua.
Speaking on stage, Thaksin said he and Somnuek had been friends for a long time and had helped found the now-defunct Palang Dharma party together. “Khun Somnuek was persuaded to leave me politically, but he refused. Now that I’m back, Khun Somnuek must not leave me,” he said.
Thaksin emphasised that, as politicians, they cannot not abandon the people and have to work for them until they can no longer do so.
