Thailand’s opposition on Monday grilled Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on the first day of a parliamentary no-confidence motion, accusing her of being unqualified and of allowing her powerful father to wield influence over her administration.
The opposition People’s Party said Paetongtarn was taking direction from her father, divisive political heavyweight Thaksin Shinawatra, a billionaire former premier who is banned from holding office over a conviction for conflicts of interest and abuse of power that kept him in self-exile for 15 years.
“We have a leader outside of the system… directing government policies without any accountability,” People’s Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut told parliament.
“Thailand is at a double loss: one person works without accountability, another who holds state power lacks qualifications,” he said.
Despite lukewarm ratings in opinion polls, Paetongtarn enters the two-day debate in a firm position, with no signs of turmoil in a ruling coalition that commands a parliamentary majority, making it unlikely the motion will prosper when it goes to a vote on Wednesday.
Paetongtarn, 38, the fourth member of the Shinawatra family to hold the top post, did not respond to Natthaphong’s allegations. She previously insisted her government is not under anyone’s influence, while Thaksin, 75, has said he is retired and only offers advice.
Thaksin, Thailand’s most influential and polarising politician, has loomed large over Thai politics for the past 24 years. He returned home in 2023 and spent six months in detention in hospital under a government led by the Pheu Thai Party he founded, before being released on parole.
He has spoken openly and frequently about policies that include legalising gambling and adopting cryptocurrency and championed a $14 billion handout scheme to stimulate the economy, all of which the Pheu Thai-led government has pursued.
