Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra said today that he is not worried about the Senate’s objections to the controversial draft Entertainment Complex bill (“casino bill”) or the government’s decision to postpone its deliberation in parliament.
In his interview with Thai media in his home province of Chiang Mai, Thaksin said that the postponement of the bill’s first reading, originally scheduled for April 9th, was beneficial to all parties concerned, as he accused opponents of distorting the concept of the project.
The government insists, however, that it will proceed with the bill when parliament reopens after a two-month recess.
He dismissed the Senate’s objections to the draft bill, claiming that coalition parties have sufficient votes to push it through both the House and Senate anyway, adding that the government wants to make sure, however, that the majority of the public support the bill.
Asked to comment on Bhumjaithai Secretary-General Chaichanok Chidchob’s declaration in parliament of his disagreement to the bill, Thaksin simply said, “Politics is always politics”, adding “Bhumjaithai is always Bhumjaithai.” He did not elaborate.
Thaksin did say that Bhumjaithai party leader Anutin Charnvirakul, also interior minister, has already explained to him that Chaichanok’s remark does not represent the party’s position regarding the casino project and that the government can manage the differences among coalition parties.
Asked whether it is time for a Cabinet reshuffle, he said it is up to Prime Minister Paetongtarn, adding that she is a member of the new generation, who “call a spade a spade.”
He admitted, though, that a new generation sometimes needs “an old man like me to provide a helping hand.”
