Rumours that caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra may resign so she her family can take a year-long break from politics have been dismissed as groundless.
Last November, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra signed this portrait of her big brother Thaksin last November at a gem exhibition. Neither will quit politics right now in exchange for reform talks, Thaksin insists. (Photo by Apichart Jinakul)
Noppadon Pattama, legal adviser to self-exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, said reports that Thaksin had ordered his younger sister Yingluck to resign and stay out from politics for one year in exchange for negotiations with anti-government protest leaders were fabricated.
Mr Noppadon said he personally checked with Thaksin who denied the report.
Whether Ms Yingluck will run for Pheu Thai in the next election will be up to the party's executive board to decide, he said. Mr Noppadon added that a royal decree to set the date of the next general election had not yet been issued, so the decision does not have to be made immediately.
The legal adviser insisted Ms Yingluck had done nothing wrong. She had not tried to cling to power, but must remain caretaker prime minister to protect democracy, he said.
Surapong Tovichakchaikul, caretaker deputy prime minister and foreign minister, also denied reports that the Shinawatra family was planning a year-long break from politics. He said the rumour had been started to breed hatred, insisting Ms Yingluck would remain caretaker premier until there is a new, elected government.
He called on anti-government protesters to stop demanding Ms Yingluck's resignation and urged the Election Commission to set a fresh general election date.
Mr Surapong said the report that Pongthep Thepkanchana will run as number one list-MP candidate for Pheu Thai in the next election was also false, adding that party members still support Ms Yingluck to be the next prime minister because people in the provinces love her.
Pheu Thai's deputy spokesman Anusorn Iamsa-ard said yesterday that attempts to spread false reports about the caretaker government are intended to mislead the public. He said moves were afoot to convince people that a coup d'etat would be acceptable and that Ms Yingluck could be arrested and forced to resign as caretaker prime minister.
He claimed that grenade attacks on the streets are increasing because violent factions are trying to dispose of weapons held in secret stashes. He said such weapons are difficult to get rid of and called on the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee to allow officials to search backstage at its rallies.
Former finance minister Thanong Bidaya meanwhile proposed that the military instruct the caretaker government and anti-government protesters to let an interim administration take over the running of the country for three months, during which time national reform could be planned.
"Otherwise, there will be no way out for the nation and bloodshed will be likely," he said.
He added that solving national problems through the justice system would take too long. Mr Thanong earlier proposed the Shinawatra family stay out of politics for four years to pave the way for reform. It is already too late for Ms Yingluck or her government to lead reform efforts, he said.
Mr Thanong described Thaksin's desire to win a decisive victory as "dangerous", adding that any wrong-turn by the former premier could make it difficult for the Shinawatra family to stay in Thailand.