absolutelyBangkok archive · Business & Economics
Originally published July 4, 2011
Ending all puzzles, predictions, calculations, and perhaps fears in at least some quarters, the Thai People have elected their first woman Prime Minister.
Welcome to Yingluck Shinawatra.
The Prime Minister to be, in her own words has admitted that this victory can be just the beginning and lot needs to be done for the Thai people, particularly the poor. The Reds have been voted into power largely by the rural poor, much to the chagrin of the elite urban community of powerful businesses.
In some sense, the 2006 coup has been rebuked and the Thai people appear to have chosen what is best for them — at least for now.
For the Pheu Thai Party, for the Prime Ministerial candidate and her brother Thaksin, the celebrations can go on for a few days before things get down to serious business. Opposed to the Democratic Party, victory is not new to the Reds and that should help them keep the celebrations short and move on with the larger agenda of delivering the expectations to the people who voted them into power.
The machinations of the Democratic Party and how Thailand suffered, including precious lives that were lost won’t be forgotten too soon. For the establishment forces, the election results could not have been far from expected. For them, thwarting the democratic process is only a game they have been practicing for several decades.
Thailand enjoys strong economic growth even in the midst of all her political turmoils. Political stability can add further impetus to this healthy trend and the first priority of the newly elected government should be to address this issue. After exports, tourism brings in the major revenue for this nation and any measures that the government can take to promote Thai holidays more aggressively will benefit the nation and her hospitality industry in particular.
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