Yingluck to run in election again – baht declines
Despite massive protests against her, Thailand’s caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has been named the No 1 party-list MP candidate of the ruling Pheu Thai Party for the February 2 snap election, according to a document filed with the Thai Election Commission on December 23, a move that observers feel will further stoke tensions between the rivaling groups in Thailand.
While anti-government protesters insist on “eradicating” what they claim is a regime led by ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, not only his sister Yingluck now appears on the election list, but as No 2 also former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat, who is Yingluck’s brother-in-law. Somchai has been banned from politics for five years for vote-buying, and the ban just recently ended.
Bangkok has been overrun by massive street protests on December 22. The day after, it was so far quiet, but anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban vowed to continue the rallies and, if necessary, “shut down Bangkok for a week or more.”
Meanwhile, the Thai baht dropped to the weakest level in more than three years on concern the prolonged political unrest will damp investment and hurt the economy.
As of December 23 at noon, the baht was at 32.61 against the dollar, 44.78 against the euro and 53.31 against the British pound. The currency has lost 4.9 per cent in the past two months and Thailand’s main stock index dropped 7.9 per cent. Government bonds gained.
Despite massive protests against her, Thailand's caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has been named the No 1 party-list MP candidate of the ruling Pheu Thai Party for the February 2 snap election, according to a document filed with the Thai Election Commission on December 23, a move that observers feel will further stoke tensions between the rivaling groups in Thailand. While anti-government protesters insist on "eradicating" what they claim is a regime led by ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, not only his sister Yingluck now appears on the election list, but as No 2 also former prime minister Somchai...
Despite massive protests against her, Thailand’s caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has been named the No 1 party-list MP candidate of the ruling Pheu Thai Party for the February 2 snap election, according to a document filed with the Thai Election Commission on December 23, a move that observers feel will further stoke tensions between the rivaling groups in Thailand.
While anti-government protesters insist on “eradicating” what they claim is a regime led by ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, not only his sister Yingluck now appears on the election list, but as No 2 also former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat, who is Yingluck’s brother-in-law. Somchai has been banned from politics for five years for vote-buying, and the ban just recently ended.
Bangkok has been overrun by massive street protests on December 22. The day after, it was so far quiet, but anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban vowed to continue the rallies and, if necessary, “shut down Bangkok for a week or more.”
Meanwhile, the Thai baht dropped to the weakest level in more than three years on concern the prolonged political unrest will damp investment and hurt the economy.
As of December 23 at noon, the baht was at 32.61 against the dollar, 44.78 against the euro and 53.31 against the British pound. The currency has lost 4.9 per cent in the past two months and Thailand’s main stock index dropped 7.9 per cent. Government bonds gained.
