January 10, 2025
Bangkok – The era of dual prime ministers is becoming increasingly evident in Thailand – Thaksin Shinawatra and his daughter, official Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
This is Thaksin's political dream. Looking back, Thaksin has learned lessons before when handing power to “prime ministers outside the Shinawatra family”, especially Samak Sundaravej, who became prime minister after the People's Power Party won the 2007 election. ) example.
Thaksin's failure to control the 25th prime minister as he wished led to the rise of the “Gang of Four” to compete for power. Eventually, Thaksin's brother-in-law Somchai Wongsawat succeeded Sharma and became the 26th Prime Minister.
Likewise, during the Sretha Thawisin era, while public appearances suggested a harmonious political alliance between Sretha and Thaksin, insiders were also aware that there were some differences between the two. This requires the intervention of exiled former female prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
Thaksin was granted parole at a critical moment in the Sreeta government, allowing him to make numerous public appearances and be interviewed on his political direction. That sparked criticism, with some seeing it as a competition for the political spotlight.
However, during the Paetongtarn era, Thaksin's appearances and interviews were seen as part of a parallel political strategy – “Thaksin plans, Paetongtarn executes”. This approach has been adopted as a model for moving countries forward and eliminating conflict or division.
Since Thaksin is the father of the prime minister and Bai Dongdan is the daughter of the former prime minister, there is no competition between them. Instead, their “dual-prime minister system” complements their strengths, with roles clearly demarcated – one passes, the other scores.
In mid-December, Thaksin publicly criticized the coalition parties for skipping cabinet meetings and threatened to expel them from the coalition if they did not cooperate. This sparked speculation that Thaksin was planning to move Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the Thai Party, and Pirapan, leader of the United Thai Party Salirathavibhaga) was kicked out of the alliance.
However, days later, Paetongtarn stepped in to defuse tensions, assuring the public that the alliance was working well together and that no provocative actions were taken by either side. She stressed that cooperation within the alliance remains strong.
People familiar with the matter said the prime minister personally informed Thaksin of his absence, triggering fiery remarks from Thaksin that shocked the political world.
Recently, questions about the “real prime minister” have surfaced, but Thaksin and Bai Dongtan have always gotten along well. Paetongtarn said of her father: “I am his daughter, not his rival. I grew up in a house where he was the head of the family. If we can adapt his words, they are always valuable. .
Paetongtarn's every word and statement underlined her unwavering support for Thaksin's political direction. Whether as prime minister or leader of the Pheu Thai Party, she had no objection to any of her father's actions.
Thaksin praised his daughter throughout his speech, emphasizing her work ethic and extensive preparation across departments. He expressed confidence that the Paetongtarn government can revive the economy and expected improvement by the end of 2025.
The “dual-prime minister” dynamic is an advantage that allows them to divide their efforts when dealing with political opponents, especially protest groups and critics. Thaksin often takes a more aggressive role, stepping up to confront his opponents directly.
Every statement Thaksin makes against his opponents is very powerful and aims to deal a direct blow to his opponents. His strategy is aimed at stopping the attacks on his daughter, and he is prepared to confront them head-on if necessary.
Thaksin acted as a shield for Paetongtarn and publicly protected her. If the prime minister personally engages in direct confrontation, it could damage her image and risk losing political points.
The “double prime minister” strategy therefore positions Thaksin as the behind-the-scenes political facilitator, responsible for handling key transactions at all levels, while Bai Dongtan takes the spotlight and controls power within the legal framework. Once key backroom deals are finalized, political strategy will move forward.
This approach has both advantages and disadvantages. Father and daughter must carefully balance their roles to ensure success without creating loopholes.
