A political science scholar from Chulalongkorn University sees ‘Paetongtarn’ as the new prime minister as a tough job, with ‘Thaksin’ as a strategist, which is both a weakness and a strength. He points out that there must be an experienced strategic team to help with the work. He is concerned that the conditions will be created for Phuang to return to a coup.

Siripan Noksuan Sawasdee, a lecturer at the Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University, said about Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra being elected as the 31st Prime Minister that it was according to the rules, but it was considered a forced flight because there was no other choice. Her weakness is her young age and lack of political experience, but her strength is being in a party with experience in governing the country. Having former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as her father is both a weakness and a strength. As for giving advice, it is undeniable that as a father, daughter, and former Prime Minister, we should listen. However, she thinks
that Thaksin must not shine over Ms. Paethongtarn. She must learn by herself.

Mrs. Siripan believes that a good starting point for entering the job is to have an apology or explanation for not being able to keep the campaign promise, which is to join hands with the political party that staged the coup. While working on each issue, especially the economy, where the policy has not been concrete in the past year, there must be a strategy team to take care of each issue and it must be an experienced team to show their skills and produce clear results, including communication that must be direct and sincere with society and the public, such as the digital wallet issue, whether to continue or not, or how to make a decision, it must be quick. If it does not move forward, there must be a replacement policy, which must be urgent.

In this regard, it is believed that having Ms. Paethongtarn as prime minister will bring politics back to its original point, but in a different atmosphere. As for whether Ms. Paethongtarn
will be able to handle it or not, it is certainly a difficult matter because it is a new job. No one has ever had experience as prime minister before.

‘But when the decision has been made and he is someone who came from an election, the people indirectly chose him as the party leader. In fact, he is more direct than Mr. Settha or Mr. Chaikasem. It can be said that he has chosen this path. Carrying all the burdens is his duty. We can only watch and if he cannot handle it, we will dissolve the parliament ourselves because it is the power in his hands. But what I do not want to see is cursing or finding a way to pave the way for a coup in the future. This is what I do not want to see. When Ms. Paethongtarn comes in under new conditions, what we have to be most careful about is not creating the same conditions that will go back. This is what we have to be careful about,’ said Ms. Siripan.

Source: Thai News Agency