‘Thaksin’s return can wait,’ says Cholnan

Pheu Thai Party leader Cholnan Srikaew on Sunday dismissed speculation that the party’s chief goal, should it secure a landslide win in the next election, is to bring deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra back to Thailand.

Dr Cholnan said the return of Thaksin, who is widely seen as the de-facto leader of Pheu Thai, was not in the party’s plans and the issue was beyond its control, even if it were to form a majority government.

“We want to fix the problems and rehabilitate the country. Once we have peace and order, other things like reconciliation may be raised for discussion. While people continue to face hardship, this issue has to wait,” he said.

Thaksin fled the country in 2008 shortly before being sentenced by the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of…