Thaksin quits

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

Thailand?s prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, will be replaced by his chief deputy, Chidchai Vanasathidya. The dramatic move comes a few days after Mr Thaksin won a strong but reduced mandate in a snap election that the main opposition boycotted. But political certainty is not yet assured.

 

CHOKING on his words, at times close to tears, Thaksin Shinawatra went on national television on Tuesday night and announced his resignation as Thailand?s prime minister. There was nothing left of the tough-guy image that the former cop turned business tycoon had cultivated. Though Mr Thaksin says he won 16m of the 28m votes cast in a snap election held two days earlier, this is down from 19m in the 2005 election, partly because of a lower turnout and partly because so many voters selected the ?no vote? box on their ballot papers, as urged by the main opposition parties, which boycotted the election.

 

 

Thank feck we never went with him

[stressederic]

I'll wait for them to make me an offer before revealing all

 

Paul B = Jordan ?

[Paul B]

Paul B = Jordan ?

 

 

Watch it or you'll feel the wrath of my bazookas!!!

[Armin_Tamzarian]

There was a large amount of s**** talked about that deal. Fwiw I still think if it had been as originally put forward (pre talks of lotteries) that it could've been mutually beneficial - note the deal wasn't with Thaksin Shinawatra but with the state of Thailand.

[fred milne]

Fwiw I still think if it had been as originally put forward (pre talks of lotteries) that it could've been mutually beneficial - note the deal wasn't with Thaksin Shinawatra but with the state of Thailand.

If that deal had gone through (and I'm glad it didn't), I would have preferred it to be with Thaksin in his capacity as a private investor, rather than with the state of Thailand.

[Bao]

Thaksin recently made over one billion pounds tax-free from the sale of his company. So he's now got time on his hands, has even more money than he had before - and is travelling to the UK this week.

It would still be a terrible idea though.