The sister of Thailand’s exiled former Prime Minister is set to become the country’s first female leader after a decisive election victory that will reopen the country’s bitter political divisions.
With almost all the votes counted, the Puea Thai party led by Yingluck Shinawatra, 44, a businesswoman with no previous political experience, had secured at least 264 of the 500 seats in Parliament — beyond most pre-election forecasts.
Late last night, Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Prime Minister, conceded defeat after indications that his Democratic Party would win 161 seats at best.
Ms Yingluck is the younger sister of Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a military coup and has been living in exile in Dubai.
The result confirms the continued support for Mr Thaksin, five years after the coup. Ms Yingluck, who has been described by her brother as his “clone”, has proposed an amnesty for convicted politicians — suggesting that he may return, despite a two-year prison sentence imposed in absentia for corruption. “This serves as a signal towards our collective journey on the path towards genuine reconciliation,” Ms Yingluck said last night.
Advertisement
Puea Thai’s victory will, however, increase fears that the armed forces may launch another coup, though such suggestions have been consistently dismissed by senior officers. It is also likely to rekindle conflict between the “Red Shirts”, supporters of Mr Thaksin, and the “Yellow Shirts”, a movement of monarchists who mounted huge, spectacular and sometimes violent protests against him.
“All parties must respect the people’s decision otherwise our country cannot achieve peace,” Mr Thaksin said last night in an interview with Thai television. “I think people want to see reconciliation. They want to move forward. We will not seek revenge.”
Whether such sentiments are realised depends on Ms Yingluck, a glamorous socialite who until six months ago was best known for attending fashionable parties and as the head of a property company.
She was born in the north of the country, the youngest of nine, and is 18 years Mr Thaksin’s junior. She studied at the universities of Chiang Mai in Thailand and Kentucky State in the US. She then worked for Shin Corp, the telecoms company that made her brother a billionaire, before establishing her property company. Though lacking experience, in the election campaign she outperformed Mr Abhisit, 46, a career politician who was born in Britain and educated at Eton and Oxford. She showed herself to be a sympathetic public speaker, and was warmly received in her brother’s stronghold, the poor north-east of the country. She spoke of the importance of helping the poor, and reunifying the country after years of political conflict. Last year, 91 people died and buildings were burned as the army put down months of Red Shirt demonstrations.
Mr Thaksin was the most successful and divisive Prime Minister in Thai history. His village healthcare schemes and programme of cheap loans won him the love of the poor and carried him to three successive election victories. But many middle-class urban voters accused him of using his vast wealth to corrupt institutions and make it impossible to unseat him. Even after the coup, his supporters won two elections.
Advertisement
He has stated his intention to return before the end of this year, but said yesterday: “I have to be part of the solution,” he said. “I don’t want to return and create problems.”
Brother’s keeper
Age 44
Education Undergraduate degree in politics from Chiang Mai University; master’s from Kentucky, US
Family The youngest of nine, her eldest brother is Mr Thaksin, right. She is married to Anusorn Amornchat, a businessman, and has one son, Pipe
Advertisement
Career Former head of Advanced Info Service, a mobile phone company founded by Mr Thaksin. Most recently, she was the head of SC Assets, a family property company, and also managed the finances for the Pheu Thai party
Politics No previous experience. She is also the first woman to run for Prime Minister
Says of herself “I learned a style from him [her brother]. But I can do it on my own”
Critics say “If people vote Pheu Thai, they won’t be voting for Yingluck, they will be voting for Thaksin” — Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political analyst
Advertisement
Sources: Times Research