PRIME MINISTER Paetongtarn Shinawatra this evening (Apr. 30) told reporters to go ask her father/de facto Pheu Thai boss Thaksin Shinawatra about the Supreme Court announcing it is on its own assessing whether he had served a one-year jail term soon after dismissing a repeated lawsuit filed by a former lawmaker on this issue, Naewna newspaper.
The Supreme Court judges in charge of criminal lawsuits against persons in political positions resolved to lift the sensational case lodged by former lawmaker Charnchai Israsenarak on whether Thaksin had served the one year jail term, curtailed from eight years under royal pardon due to power abuse charges committed during his previous premiership a couple of decades ago, as he was moved to Police Hospital without being behind bars for a single day. After spending six months at Police Hospital he was released on parole.
However soon afterwards the Supreme Court ordered the head of Bangkok Remand Prison, the directors-general of the Corrections Department and Police Hospital to state within 30 days whether Thaksin had served this sentence.
A hearing was set for June 13.
Paetongtarn made her comment at Waldorf Astoria Hotel where she gave a special talk on “Economic Revival Mission: Mission Thailand” organized by TNN TV station.
She touched on Moody’s Ratings today affirming the Government of Thailand’s Baa1 issuer and local currency senior unsecured ratings, while changing the country’s economic outlook from stable to negative. The ratings agency has also confirmed Thailand’s foreign currency commercial paper rating at P-2.
The Prime Minister said this is just one perspective and not a red flag and it does not mean Thailand lacks confidence. One factor in Moody’s measurement comes from the tariff wall, which is also encountered all around the world.
In 2008, Thailand was downgraded and then later upgraded.
She added that the first thing to do is to not fall behind on issues Moody’s is concerned about, and aside from the tariff wall these include the lingering debt burden plus political conflicts that erupt and could pose an obstacle in implementing policies.
Thailand has to generate money for the country to continuously grow the GDP, create new industries, develop research and improve its image.
The GDP in 2024 was 2.5% but this rose to 3.2% towards the end of the year and this is the guideline that must be continuously pushed forward, she added.
CAPTION:
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra giving a talk at Waldorf Astoria Hotel this evening, April 30, 2025. Photos: Thai Rath
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