Global fame only Paetongtarn’s brief escape

Photo: Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra//Her FB page



It has been a great few days for Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. But nothing provides better illusions than international prestige, and local popularity polls can help promote or simply destroy a politician.

The picture of Paetongtarn being the only woman who is also young and pretty among Asian leaders at the Asia Cooperation Dialogue summit in Doha must have made many proud. Her and Pheu Thai supporters can also take heart in the fact that she has leapfrogged other Thai prime ministerial candidates in a recent popularity survey.

In addition, TIME magazine has named her and gay rights activist Plaifah Kyoka Shodladd on a list of emerging leaders shaping the future of the world.

As they say, however, pride always comes before a fall. Whether that is true for 38-year-old Paetongtarn or not, she is returning home to a perfect political storm.

Old and new enemies of her father Thaksin Shinawatra are looking more hell-bent than ever to bring her down. Legal complaints are being readied and have the tendency to end her reign swiftly. A powerful ally-turned-foe, in other words the People’s Party, no longer has her back and may even be hiding a knife of its own.

As for the new “allies”, she can trust none of them.

Floods will not go away easily. The “free money” provided by her government may have improved her political standing among Thais a bit, but it was also a point of no return legally speaking.

The more popular she is thanks to “Digital Wallet”, the more vulnerable she has become because of it.

Major international events are great escapes. Ask Srettha Thavisin or even Joe Biden, both of whom looked relieved to be able to stay briefly away from scrutiny in their own countries and read from scripts with no contemptuous questions subsequently asked.

Politics anywhere is pretentious or downright deceptive. But comparing international politics with domestic ones is like comparing men with boys.

Worse still for Paetongtarn, increased global recognition might magnify animosity at home. International acceptance can boost morale, but that is just about it.

She can also ask her own father how much international support can really help. He has seen it all before _ western embassies piling on pressure against his political enemies, or global media writing favourable reports, or internet records damning his “persecution.”

Before she left for Qatar she was asked about Sondhi Limthongkul, and most likely she will have to comment on him again after her return. The man who was once her father’s cheerleader led a prolonged street protest against his government before his administration was ousted in a coup has threatened to do the same against her.

Paetongtarn’s pre-Doha remark on Sondhi was tongue-in-cheek. “Not so fast,” she said, laughing. “I’m just weeks into the job.”

Her next comment about him may not be as lighthearted. After all, Sondhi sounded serious, and his fan base is considerably big. Moreover, he can be aided covertly or openly by well-known street warrior Jatuporn Prompan, also a big-name Thaksin deserter, and leading, influential conservatives.

Sondhi’s threat remains ambiguous, and his issues with her mixed personal matters with state policy affairs that may not effectively entice ordinary people to become protesters. But proposed charter amendment can always turn into a catalyst for chaos.

Paetongtarn’s Doha speech was typically diplomatic, full of praises for the host and promises of cooperation efforts, development plans and bridging of the East and West. The Thai government did mention cross-border political tension and aggression affecting more and more innocent people.

The call for an immediate end to global hostility is good diplomacy, and she would make world headlines if she led Switzerland. Being Thailand’s embattled leader, though, Paetongtarn speaking about saving innocent world citizens can seem like a housewife ignoring her own burning house to try to stop an outdoor fight.

As mentioned above, international diplomacy is just an illusional escape. The following, which sounds grand, optimistic and satisfying, can be an example of beautiful words papering over troubles of the speaker:

“Under the context of growth and challenges of Asia, (the meeting) is crucial for Member States to shape a concrete vision and direction for future cooperation of the ACD. With our shared aspirations, the Meeting provides a good opportunity to work together to find solutions to the challenges that face Asia.”

That was nice. Only it was not Paetongtarn’s speech. Prayut Chan-o-cha said it some eight years ago as the Pheu Thai, Move Forward and a few other parties were swearing to take down his government.