Thaksin confident Pheu Thai candidates will win most PAO elections

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra said today that he is confident that Pheu Thai Party’s candidates are likely to win the upcoming Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) elections in most provinces.

Thaksin, de facto leader of the Pheu Thai Party, is currently campaigning for its candidates in battleground local elections against two other major parties, the People’s and Bhumjaithai parties, a coalition partner in the Pheu Thai-led government.

He said that he has visited as many people in the northeast as possible while campaigning, adding that he is not concerned about the criticism he has attracted, because he is doing everything according to the law.

During a campaign rally in Nakhon Phanom province today, in support of candidate Anuchit Hongsadee, Thaksin told the audience that, in the two years following the government’s term in office, he believes that Thai people will have more money in their pockets than they have today.

He mentioned the government’s plan to legalise online gambling, saying that the change is expected to earn about 100 billion baht in revenue annually, if there is a 20% tax on the gambling, which can be used to promote education for Thai children. This compares to only 30 billion baht from the 1% tax imposed on interest earned from 3 trillion baht in bank deposits.

PAO elections for mayor and council posts are to be held in 47 provinces on February 1st.