By Thai Newsroom Reporters
FORMER RED SHIRT leader Nattawut Saikua is being named “director” of a Pheu Thai Family project with apparent intent to recruit pro-democracy activists nationwide as supporters of Pheu Thai Party in the next general election, partisan sources said today (June 14).
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, leader of Pheu Thai Family and daughter of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, is scheduled tomorrow to appoint Nattawut as “director” of the Pheu Thai Family project, primarily aimed at recruiting Red Shirt members in all provinces of the country as members of Pheu Thai Family.
Given Thaksin’s status of de facto owner of Pheu Thai Party which he founded in 1998 only to be dissolved by court twice, albeit under different names, his youngest daughter will almost certainly be named Pheu Thai candidate for head of a post-election government, apparently skipping over nominal Pheu Thai leader Chonlanan Srikaew.
For starters on the upcoming Saturday, Nattawut will visit Sisaket where three Pheu Thai MPs are largely expected to defect from the largest opposition camp to coalition partner Bhumjaithai Party during a run-up to the next general election.
The former Red Shirt leader will specifically call on villagers in the constituencies of the northeastern province where those renegade lawmakers, namely Pongsri Sae Jueng, Thira Traisaranakul and Chaturong Pengnorapat, currently represent at parliament.
Red Shirt members, particularly those in the northern and northeastern provinces, who were believed to have voted Pheu Thai candidates for MPs in previous elections, will be expected to help them make it to parliament again.
CAPTION:
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, leader of Pheu Thai Family and daughter of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, left, and Nattawut Saikua, right. Photo: Matichon
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