It has proven to be an extraordinarily resilient party political force. Formed in 1998 by police lieutenant colonel turned telecommunications magnate Thaksin Shinawatra, it has survived concerted efforts to destroy its popularity and legitimacy. It has endured large-scale popular protests, a military coup, corruption convictions, a bloody record of gross human rights abuses, two dissolutions and the dismissal from power of three of its prime ministers. With the end of the People Power Party, the Thai Rak Thai cadre will now line up under a new banner, Peua Thai.
When it first won an election, back in 2001, the memorable Thai Rak Thai campaign slogan was “new thinking, new action, for all Thais”. Delivering on many of its promises to devote attention and resources to rural issues and the plight of the poor, it has been deeply unpopular with parts of the middle and upper classes. The Thai Rak Thai government challenged powerful players in the existing social and economic order while Thaksin helped himself and his family to some of the spoils of office. Thai Rak Thai has paid the price ever since.
Nonetheless all previous efforts to remove it from Thai political life have failed. If pushed it could mobilise crowds on the streets of Bangkok that would dwarf the anti-government forces. Of course, in the coming months, Thai Rak Thai 3.0 is likely to face even greater threats to its existence. It is clear that some people have staked their futures on a Thai political system where elections have a diminished role.
This is a future that former Prime Minister Thaksin and his populist tacticians are working very hard to avoid.
Cross posted from New Mandala