Thai parliament to vote on new PM, as Thaksin jets off amid chaos
BANGKOK: Thailand’s parliament was set to choose a new prime minister on Friday, after days of political chaos, in a vote that could be overshadowed by the dramatic departure from the country of its most powerful politician Thaksin Shinawatra.
Polarising billionaire Thaksin, the central figure in a tumultuous two-decade battle for power in Thailand, left on his private jet for Dubai late on Thursday, with his family’s ruling party Pheu Thai in disarray.
Thaksin’s flight out of Thailand came only days ahead of a court ruling next week that could see him jailed.
The departure of Thaksin, the driving force behind Pheu Thai, came six days after a court sacked his daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, as prime minister for an ethics violation, triggering a scramble for power and a bold offensive by a renegade party to form its own government.
Pheu Thai, the populist political juggernaut that won five of the past six elections, has fought desperately to thwart the challenge of former alliance partner Bhumjaithai, which has won the backing of the biggest force in parliament with a pledge to call a new election within four months.
The turmoil has put Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul in pole position ahead of Friday’s vote, where he needs the support of more than half of the lower house to become prime minister.
His coalition has 146 lawmakers and with the People’s Party opting to stay in the opposition but guaranteeing him its 143 votes, Anutin could comfortably pass the required threshold of 247 votes.
