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Thaksin quits, but turmoil remains
New parliament convenes in May to choose new leader
Tuesday, April 4, 2006; Posted: 11:45 p.m. EDT (03:45 GMT)
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thailand's political crisis may have come to a head with the sudden resignation of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, but the weeks ahead promise further turmoil.
One day after claiming victory in a snap election that was boycotted by opposition parties over corruption claims, Thaksin promised to step down after meeting with the deeply revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Tuesday.
As protesters celebrated his unexpected announcement, the telecom magnate who called himself a "CEO prime minister" and said he could change Thailand by running it like a company, has named two potential successors, both from his Thai Rak Thai party.
Although official results are still not confirmed, Thaksin's party is expected to hold a majority when the new parliament convenes in early May and as such will be empowered to name the next prime minister.
The 56-year-old self-made billionaire says he will stay on as a caretaker leader until that time, but opposition forces have said the massive street protests of recent weeks will continue if he is not gone before the end of April.
Sondhi Limthongkul, a former Thaksin crony who spearheaded the drive to remove him, said protests would stop for the time being "in honor of the king," AP reports.
But he added that demonstrators were not fully satisfied with the resignation because any new prime minister might just become a proxy for Thaksin.
Thaksin has dominated the political scene like few leaders before him in Thailand. He was the first elected Thai leader to serve out a full term in office, and despite simmering allegations of mismanagement and corruptions, was re-elected last year by a landslide.
On Monday, Thaksin named two possible replacements should he stand aside: Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, and Bhokin Bhalakula, a former House Speaker who is his top legal expert.
Somkid, 52, has served in Thaksin's governments at various times as finance minister, deputy prime minister and commerce minister, The Associated Press reports.
He has long been entrusted with directing economic policy for Thaksin, and would reassure the country's business community, which has been put on edge by the political tension of the past few months, AP reports.
However, he suffers from health problems -- he recently had angioplasty to help his circulation -- and may not want the job.
Bhokin Bhalakula, 54, has been Thaksin's top legal adviser and was deeply involved in the prime minister's battle strategy to hold on to his post over the past few months, AP reports.
Those activities earned him many enemies, which could make it difficult for him to assume the prime minister's post.
Others in the picture
Several other names have also emerged as likely successors.
Agriculture Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan, 44, is one of the country's best known female politicians. Her ties with Thaksin go back to when they both first entered politics in the 1990s, and she helped him found the Thai Rak Thai party in 1998, AP reports.
She is highly loyal to Thaksin and served as both health and agriculture minister in Thaksin's government.
Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai, 47, is also in the picture after attaining a high international profile while Thailand promoted him as Asia's candidate to become the next secretary-general of the United Nations, according to AP.
Whomever the successor is, they will have to battle the legacy of Thaksin who has dominated for years.
But it all began crumbling in January, when Thaksin said his family had sold off its controlling interest in Shin Corporation, the biggest telecom company, to a Singapore buyer. No tax was paid on the $1.9 billion the sale brought in.
For critics of Thaksin, this was more evidence of corruption in high places, triggering the weeks of street protests that have blocked up the capital Bangkok, and taken an economic toll on the markets and the baht.
But analysts say the pressure has been building up over the years for the removal of a prime minister some called authoritarian and arrogant. He was known for his hard line stance on drugs, which left 2,300 Thais dead over a three-month period in 2003.
He also suffered some flak for his handling of a Muslim insurgency in the south, and his bid to muzzle the media.
"There has been no debate of public issues on television for five years," political analyst Chris Baker told CNN. "So when finally, the cork blew out of the bottle, then the fizz came out after it and blew up in his face, if you like."
But not everyone is happy about Thaksin's decision.
The prime minister enjoyed strong support in rural areas where 70 percent of Thailand's 63 million people live, thanks to generous social welfare and economic assistance programs.
Thaksin's exit under popular pressure was the second for a Thai leader in the past decade and a half, but this time it came about without bloodshed.
In 1992, demonstrators against a military strongman were gunned down before the king stepped in to end the fighting and usher in a period of stable democracy.
New parliament convenes in May to choose new leader
Tuesday, April 4, 2006; Posted: 11:45 p.m. EDT (03:45 GMT)
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thailand's political crisis may have come to a head with the sudden resignation of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, but the weeks ahead promise further turmoil.
One day after claiming victory in a snap election that was boycotted by opposition parties over corruption claims, Thaksin promised to step down after meeting with the deeply revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Tuesday.
As protesters celebrated his unexpected announcement, the telecom magnate who called himself a "CEO prime minister" and said he could change Thailand by running it like a company, has named two potential successors, both from his Thai Rak Thai party.
Although official results are still not confirmed, Thaksin's party is expected to hold a majority when the new parliament convenes in early May and as such will be empowered to name the next prime minister.
The 56-year-old self-made billionaire says he will stay on as a caretaker leader until that time, but opposition forces have said the massive street protests of recent weeks will continue if he is not gone before the end of April.
Sondhi Limthongkul, a former Thaksin crony who spearheaded the drive to remove him, said protests would stop for the time being "in honor of the king," AP reports.
But he added that demonstrators were not fully satisfied with the resignation because any new prime minister might just become a proxy for Thaksin.
Thaksin has dominated the political scene like few leaders before him in Thailand. He was the first elected Thai leader to serve out a full term in office, and despite simmering allegations of mismanagement and corruptions, was re-elected last year by a landslide.
On Monday, Thaksin named two possible replacements should he stand aside: Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, and Bhokin Bhalakula, a former House Speaker who is his top legal expert.
Somkid, 52, has served in Thaksin's governments at various times as finance minister, deputy prime minister and commerce minister, The Associated Press reports.
He has long been entrusted with directing economic policy for Thaksin, and would reassure the country's business community, which has been put on edge by the political tension of the past few months, AP reports.
However, he suffers from health problems -- he recently had angioplasty to help his circulation -- and may not want the job.
Bhokin Bhalakula, 54, has been Thaksin's top legal adviser and was deeply involved in the prime minister's battle strategy to hold on to his post over the past few months, AP reports.
Those activities earned him many enemies, which could make it difficult for him to assume the prime minister's post.
Others in the picture
Several other names have also emerged as likely successors.
Agriculture Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan, 44, is one of the country's best known female politicians. Her ties with Thaksin go back to when they both first entered politics in the 1990s, and she helped him found the Thai Rak Thai party in 1998, AP reports.
She is highly loyal to Thaksin and served as both health and agriculture minister in Thaksin's government.
Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai, 47, is also in the picture after attaining a high international profile while Thailand promoted him as Asia's candidate to become the next secretary-general of the United Nations, according to AP.
Whomever the successor is, they will have to battle the legacy of Thaksin who has dominated for years.
But it all began crumbling in January, when Thaksin said his family had sold off its controlling interest in Shin Corporation, the biggest telecom company, to a Singapore buyer. No tax was paid on the $1.9 billion the sale brought in.
For critics of Thaksin, this was more evidence of corruption in high places, triggering the weeks of street protests that have blocked up the capital Bangkok, and taken an economic toll on the markets and the baht.
But analysts say the pressure has been building up over the years for the removal of a prime minister some called authoritarian and arrogant. He was known for his hard line stance on drugs, which left 2,300 Thais dead over a three-month period in 2003.
He also suffered some flak for his handling of a Muslim insurgency in the south, and his bid to muzzle the media.
"There has been no debate of public issues on television for five years," political analyst Chris Baker told CNN. "So when finally, the cork blew out of the bottle, then the fizz came out after it and blew up in his face, if you like."
But not everyone is happy about Thaksin's decision.
The prime minister enjoyed strong support in rural areas where 70 percent of Thailand's 63 million people live, thanks to generous social welfare and economic assistance programs.
Thaksin's exit under popular pressure was the second for a Thai leader in the past decade and a half, but this time it came about without bloodshed.
In 1992, demonstrators against a military strongman were gunned down before the king stepped in to end the fighting and usher in a period of stable democracy.
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