In his key speech at the event unlocking the future of Thailand: Facing a global crisis on July 17 hosted by MCOT National Television, former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra emphasized the role of political stability and close coordination in recovering the countrys economy.
Mr. Thaksin also shared in depth about financial strategy and the role of the current government. He affirmed: The Government has enough legitimateness to quickly pass laws to resolve urgent problems. If we do not act soon, there will be no change.
Notably, Mr. Thaksin once again publicly supported and expressed confidence in his daughter - Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who is currently suspended from the position of Prime Minister of Thailand. "Paetongtarn Shinawatra as prime minister also means I continue to serve the country," he added.
Mr. Thaksin said that he is ready to support the government in synthesizing key issues and solutions, and forwarding them to ministers to speed up action.
Sharing about the political situation, former Prime Minister Thaksin recounted the story to a friend in Singapore: When I first returned, my friend congratulated me. But that said, competing with Thailand is no longer a concern due to the unstable situation. This is something we have to avoid. Instead of dividing, let's cooperate for national prosperity."
Thaksin recalled his early political career, when lawmakers could debate fiercely but still respect each other. When the Thai Rak Thai Party is too strong, communication becomes difficult and leads to a thorough win- loss mentality. That should not exist, he said.
In terms of economy, Mr. Thaksin said that Thailand needs to bring new cash flow into the market, through tools such as issuing short-term bonds or digital accounting (G-token). According to him, this is a way to help create liquidity in the context of limited budgets.
He also proposed building smart cities to increase security, cited by the incident of someone placing a smoke bomb near his home. "If there is a smart city system with AI cameras and monitoring software, it will help ensure more effective safety."
Regarding the digital wallet policy, Mr. Thaksin affirmed that it has not been canceled but only delayed due to factors such as "US tax" and concerns about factory bankruptcies. He said that there is still a way to increase the debt ceiling but it needs to be calculated carefully.
When asked why he continues to participate in politics, Mr. Thaksin shared: "I have been active in politics for 51 years. My daughter has accompanied me since I was the Minister of Foreign Affairs, standing side by side with me in the election campaigns. The desire to help people is in our DNA. When the opportunity arises, we will serve wholeheartedly. If they don't want to, we will return to raise the children."
Mr. Thaksin also completely denied the information about the secret deals when he returned to Thailand in 2023. I dont have any agreements with anyone. I would like to go back according to the correct procedures and receive amnesty from the King, thats all, he emphasized.
