By Thai Newsroom Reporters
DE FACTO PHEU THAI BOSS Thaksin Shinawatra has quietly threatened to oust any coalition partners from the Pheu Thai-led government if they may choose to deny legislation on the upcoming Wednesday to open casinos under entertainment complex projects in certain tourist spots, a partisan source said today (Apr. 7).
Despite concerted opposition from varied sectors of society and former senators to the Pheu Thai-designed legislation to open casinos under the name of entertainment complexes, all coalition partners have been strongly encouraged by the de facto Pheu Thai boss/father of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to see to it that all their MPs cast yea votes for it in Wednesday’s session otherwise they could probably be kicked out of the government, according to the partisan source who only spoke on condition of anonymity.
The billionaire power player could possibly prompt his daughter who concurrently acts as leader of the Pheu Thai, core of the multiple coalition government, to dissolve the House of Representatives and call a general election following the threatened ouster of any rebellious coalition partners who may practically vote against the casino bill or abstain from voting for it, the partisan source said.
Those coalition partners whom Thaksin may refer to in regard to the contentious casino-opening issue include the Bhumjaithai under de facto party boss Newin Chidchob, the Ruam Thai Sang Chart under de facto party boss/former coup leader-turned-prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and the Prachachart led by Justice Minister Thavi Sodsong.
The Pheu Thai invariably insisted that casinos which would only be part of entertainment complex projects in major tourist spots such as Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai and Bangkok could attract deep-pocketed, foreign visitors and immensely help stimulate the national economy.
The highly controversial bill was postponed from last week’s House agenda in the face of anti-casino criticism with a street protest orchestrated by anti-Thaksin activists and others likely to resume outside parliament on Wednesday.
CAPTION:
De facto Pheu Thai boss Thaksin Shinawatra. Top photo: Thai Rath, Front Page photo: Naewna
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