Strong coalition to aid Thaksin

With a strong House majority a near certainty, Phue Thai leaders are already planning how and when to bring former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra home.

Sanoh Thienthong, left, of Pheu Thai puts his arm around the shoulders of Sanan Kachornprasart, right, chief adviser to the Chartthaipattana Party, as they join potential prime ministerial candidate Yingluck Shinawatra at a press conference announcing the formation of a five-party coalition. SOMCHAI POOMLARD

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Pheu Thai gears toward amnesty

Moves are already afoot to bring back Thaksin

Aekarach Sattaburuth
 
The Pheu Thai Party looks set to consolidate its power as a majority government with more than 300 House seats to smooth the path for exiled former prime minister and its de facto leader Thaksin Shinawatra to return home, a party source said.

The source said the party will use its numbers in the House of Representatives to ensure smooth passage of legislation to grant amnesty for Thaksin's 2008 corruption conviction, which would enable him to come home.

The party is now trying to poach MPs from two main factions inside the Bhumjaithai Party led by Somsak Thepsuthin and Sora-at Klinprathum to have the desired number of at least 300 seats.

Four political parties –  Chartthaipattana, Chart Pattana Puea Pandin, Phalang Chon Party and Mahachon –  have now agreed to join Pheu Thai to form a coalition government with 299 House seats combined.

The source said Pheu Thai is also seeking to control three major ministries –  the Foreign, Defence and Interior ministries –  which are crucial to bringing Thaksin back to Thailand.

However, the source said the party would tread carefully and not rush the plan to bring Thaksin back home considering that his opponents would come out in opposition to his return, which could rock the stability of the new government.

"The party will have to wait for the right timing when the new government becomes strongest with the support of more than 300 House seats to ensure the passage of legislation related to the granting of amnesty is plain sailing," the source said.

Pheu Thai will also need to be sure that its coalition partners will be given the cabinet seats they desire to guarantee government stability.

The Bhumjaithai Party, which looks likely to be on the opposition bench, is now facing possible dissolution as there have been complaints of election fraud against the party.

If Bhumjaithai is dissolved, the situation in parliament would be even more favourable to Pheu Thai as the opposition camp would be too weak while the government would be more stable. Then, it should be the right time to grant amnesty to Thaksin and bring him home, the source said.

This scenario may take one to two years or even a full four-year term in office to materialise, but it is not too long and is seen to be "worth the wait", the source said.

Before the right timing comes, the top priority for the new government will be to tackle the economic woes to sustain the government's popularity, the source said.

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potential – possible เป็นไปได้
candidate – a person who is trying to be elected ผู้สมัครรับเลือกตั้ง
press conference – an official meeting where someone makes a formal statement about a particular issue or event to journalists and answers their questions about it การแถลงข่าว
coalition (government) – a government formed by two or more political parties working together รัฐบาลผสม
gear toward – to prepare yourself, or to prepare something for an activity or event  เตรียม ให้พร้อมสำหรับ
amnesty – a situation in which a government agrees not to punish people who have committed a crime การนิรโทษกรรม
afoot – being planned; happening  ดำเนินไป, กำลังเป็นอยู่
consolidate – to make a position of power or success stronger so that it is more likely to continue ทำให้แข็งแรง, รวบรวมกำลัง
majority – more than 50 percent of a group เสียงส่วนใหญ่
exiled – forced to live in a foreign country, usually for political reasons ที่ถูกเนรเทศ
de facto – in reality;  in fact อย่างแท้จริง, อันที่จริง, ตามความจริง
source – someone who gives information แหล่งข่าว
ensure – to make certain that something happens or is done  ให้การยืนยัน, รับรอง, ให้ความมั่นใจ
legislation – a law or set of laws suggested by a government and made official by a parliament การออกกฎหมาย
grant – to officially give something  ให้
conviction – when someone is officially found to be guilty of a particular crime การพิสูจน์ว่ากระทำผิด
poach – to take and use somebody/something that belongs to somebody/something else, especially in a secret, dishonest or unfair way แย่ง, ขโมยจับ
faction – a small group within a larger group กลุ่มย่อยๆ
combined – counted together รวมกัน
crucial – extremely important because it effects the result of something สำคัญยิ่ง
tread carefully – to be very careful about what you do or say  ระมัดระวัง, ปฏิบัติตัว อย่างรอบคอบ
rush – to move or do something very quickly รีบเร่ง
considering – thinking about a particular fact and being influenced by it พิจารณาถึง
opponent – someone who disagrees with you or who is competing against you  ผู้ไม่เห็นด้วยกับ,  ฝ่ายตรงข้าม
opposition – strong disagreement with a plan or policy ความขัดแย้ง
rock – to shock, surprise, or frighten someone ทำให้ตกใจ, ทำให้สั่นสะเทือน
stability – a situation in which things happen as they should and there are no harmful changes; when something is not likely to move or change ความมั่นคง, เสถียรภาพ
plain sailing – simple and free from trouble ขั้นตอนที่ไม่ยากลำบาก, เรื่องง่ายๆ
desire – to have a strong wish to have or do something อยาก, ประสงค์, ต้องการ
guarantee – to be certain that something will happen รับรอง, รับประกัน
dissolution – the process of officially ending the existence of a group of organisation การยุบ (พรรค สภา)
election fraud – the crime of cheating in an election  การโกงการเลือกตั้ง
favourable – good for something and making it likely to be successful or have an advantage ซึ่งอำนวยประโยชน์
camp – a group of people who have the same ideas about something and oppose people with other ideas
scenario – a description of possible actions or events in the future การสมมติสภาพที่เลวร้ายที่เป็นไปได้
term – a period of time a politician or other official holds their job ช่วงเวลาการดำรงตำแหน่ง
materialise – to happen or become real กลายเป็นจริง
priority – something important that must be done first or which needs more attention than something else การมาก่อน
tackle – to make an organised and determine attempt to deal with a problem จัดการ
woes - great problems or troubles ความเสียใจ, ความทุกข์ร้อน
sustain – to keep; to continue รักษาไว้
popularity – a situation in which someone or something is liked by many people ความเป็นที่นิยม, ความเป็นที่ชื่นชอบ