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A puppet?

July 1, 2011

As Thailand gears up for elections, it is increasingly likely that the Pheu Thai Party of ousted former PM Thaksin Shinawatra will win. He himself is in exile but his sister could well become the next prime minister.

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Yingluck Shinawatra might become Thailand's first female PM
Yingluck Shinawatra might become Thailand's first female PMImage: AP

Yingluck Shinawatra, the opposition Pheu Thai Party candidate, almost appeared out of thin air earlier this year. Yet her appearance on the political scene was not that surprising since the 44-year-old successful businesswoman is the sister of Thaksin Shinawatra, who is in self-imposed exile after being sentenced for abuse of office.

Although Yingluck initially had no political experience, she has shot to fame and now heads the polls by several percentage points over the ruling Democrat Party.

Ninety people died last year in violent clashes between the army and protesters
Ninety people died last year in violent clashes between the army and protestersImage: AP

She is optimistic that Thailand is ripe for a woman and ripe for her: "I think the Thai people like equal opportunities between men and women and I think they will give me that opportunity."

She says that her top priority is to "close the gap between people, of low and high income, as it is increasing. The question is how to find reconciliation and bring peace to Thailand."

Tackling rising food, transport and oil costs

Her party, whose supporters stem mainly from the urban and rural underclass, has to "solve problems such as high food prices by tackling rising transport costs and oil prices," she adds. It wants to do more for the urban and rural underclass.

Yingluck says she shares her brother's ideas
Yingluck says she shares her brother's ideasImage: AP

In its campaign, the Pheu Thai Party promised a higher minimum wage, better access to education, which would include free computers, and improved purchasing conditions for farmers, who so far have been largely left by the wayside by Thailand's economic development.

Not a puppet

Yingluck has rejected the oft-voiced reproach that she is merely a puppet for her brother Thaksin but she admits she has learnt a lot from him and shares his ideas and vision.

She also claims she will not simply announce an amnesty and bring him back to Thailand. "The laws which apply to everyone apply to my brother," she says. "He will be treated like all Thai people."

Whether Yingluck can form a government and keep her word will only become clear if she wins the elections on Sunday. If Thaksin does return, the divided country will once again face a tough test of endurance.

Author: Udo Schmidt / act
Editor: Ziphora Robina