Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra wants his planned return to Thailand to be seen as a family affair. But few are fooled by his latest political act.
All of a sudden Thaksin has become a key player in the weeks-long political haggling over the formation of a post-election coalition. His announcement that he will finally end his self-exile and fly back to Bangkok on August 10 is seen by many as a signal that a deal has already been sealed.
Despite his years of absence, Thaksin still calls the shots in Pheu Thai Party, which is now entrusted by its allies with the task of forming a coalition. The ongoing attempts by Pheu Thai to get wider support outside its alliance for its prime ministerial nomination has, however, run into a brick wall.
With Thaksin’s blessing, Pheu Thai now is believed to be only a step away from abandoning the pact it has made with seven other…
