On Monday, Thailand’s opposition harshly questioned Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra at the start of a parliamentary no-confidence debate, accusing her of incompetence and alleging her powerful father’s undue influence over her administration.
The opposition People’s Party stated that Paetongtarn was being guided by her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, a controversial political figure and billionaire ex-premier who, due to a conviction for conflict of interest and abuse of power, has been in self-exile for 15 years and is prohibited from holding office.
“We have a leader outside of the system… directing government policies without any accountability,” People’s Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut told parliament.
“Thailand is at a double loss: one person works without accountability, another who holds state power lacks qualifications,” Natthaphong remarked.
Despite moderate public support according to opinion polls, Paetongtarn approached the two-day debate from a strong position, backed by a stable ruling coalition with a parliamentary majority, making it unlikely that the no-confidence motion will succeed in the vote on Wednesday.
Paetongtarn, aged 38 and the fourth Shinawatra to become premier, remained silent regarding Natthaphong’s charges. She has maintained that her administration operates free from external control, while Thaksin, now 75, has declared his retirement, stating he merely gives advice.
Thaksin, a pivotal and divisive figure in Thai politics for over two decades, returned to Thailand in 2023.
After returning, he was detained for six months in a hospital under a government led by the Pheu Thai Party, which he founded, and was later released on parole.
He has been vocal about several policies including legalizing gambling and embracing cryptocurrency, and has supported a $14 billion economic stimulus plan, which the current government has implemented.
Prawit Wongsuwon, an influential lawmaker and former general who played a role in the 2014 coup against another Shinawatra government, criticized Paetongtarn for economic mismanagement and national security issues and accused her of concealing wealth and running the government for her family’s benefit.
During the initial proceedings, she provided only a brief rebuttal.
“I have listened to you for 10 minutes,” Paetongtarn responded to Prawit. “The statements that the senior member made are not true.”
The government’s economic initiatives have so far failed to significantly boost Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy, which grew only 2.5% last year, lagging behind its regional counterparts.
Critics highlight persistent structural problems and a household debt that stands at 16.34 trillion baht ($486 billion), or 89.0% of the GDP, one of the highest in Asia, as issues the government has failed to tackle.
Yuttaporn Issarachai, a political scientist at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, commented that the censure motion is unlikely to impact the government’s stability.
“The opposition’s tactic to delegitimize Paetongtarn’s leadership is not new because she already faces criticism from society,” Yuttaporn said. “The focus on Thaksin’s role and interference makes it too political and not beneficial to the public.”
Paetongtarn assumed the role of Thailand’s youngest prime minister in August following the court-mandated removal of her political ally, Srettha Thavisin, due to an ethics violation.
