LOCAL
TRT holding all the cards
Tsunami disasters keeps rivals out of the news
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Know these words and phrases
holding all the cards
having a very big advantage
literally
exactly; very much like
drowned
covered or washed away
blessing
a benefit
had the media spotlight
has received much coverage in newspapers, on television, etc.
lingering
slow to end or disappear
derided
treated as ridiculous and not worth considering seriously
populist
seeming or claiming to care about the ordinary people
stunts
things that are done to attract attention
initiative
a new plan for dealing with something
debt-relief
eliminating or reducing money that it owed
resort to
to make use of because there is not other possible solution
short-sighted
not thinking carefully about the possible effects
resonating
winning support or agreement
turning a blind eye
ignoring
constituency
a district represented by a member of parliament
underdog
someone who is expected to lose in a competition
constituents
people who live in a constituency
hold in high regard
to have a high respect for
is no slouch
refers to some one who works very hard and gets good results
stronghold
an area where support is high
high name recognition
being very well known
backing
support
dark horse
someone who is not expected to win a competition, but still has a chance of winning
clean sweep
to win everything available
at stake
that which can be won or lost
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Despite the troubles in the South and the continuing after effects of the bird flu crisis, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is riding high as the general election approaches.
— PATTANAPONG HIRUNARD |
Tsunami disasters keeps rivals out of the news
General election campaigns in Thailand are very short, certainly compared to US standards. This time around, it hardly seems there is an election campaign going on at all. For almost three weeks now, the tsunami disaster has almost literally drowned news of the election off the front pages.
That appears to have been a blessing for Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his Thai Rak Thai Party (TRT). Just by doing his job in leading the country’s response to the disaster, Mr Thaksin has had the media spotlight all to himself with his political opponents almost completely out of sight. It also appears that he has done a very good job, even winning praise from long-time critic Ammar Siamwalla, for his non-stop efforts to help the tsunami victims.
Of course, the TRT was already favoured to win by an even larger majority in parliament than it already commands. Despite the lingering violence in the deep South and the aftereffects of the bird flu crisis, the prime minister remains personally popular. His party has also absorbed several of the parties that competed against it in the last election. Finally, the Thaksin government is widely perceived to have fulfilled its major campaign promises, a first in the Thai political system.
Derided by critics as populist vote-getting stunts, the 30-baht hospital visit scheme, the one-million-baht per village fund, the one-tambon-one-product (OTOP) initiative and the various debt-relief programmes have been a big hit with Thailand’s large rural poor population who care little about economic theory.
Unfortunately, that is what his opponents have had to resort to. They have been saying that the TRT economic policy is shortsighted, risky and likely to leave the rural poor in worse shape than they were before. That may be someday become true, but it hasn’t happened yet, so the opposition arguments are having a hard time resonating with voters.
The opposition is also accusing the Thaksin government of turning a blind eye to corruption and for promoting policies favouring the businesses associated with TRT politicians. They point to the Shinawatra family’s wealth which has grown enormously since Mr Thaksin took office. It remains to be seen how effective such attacks will be.
Meanwhile, there are some interesting races to watch right here in Bangkok. In Don Muang, the Chart Thai Party is fielding the popular former television personality Janista (Bam) Liewchalermwong who had previously served in parliament as a party-list MP. Her TRT opponent is Chart Thai defector, Karun Hosakul.
Some analysts are predicting a tough battle, with Janista, a relative newcomer to the constituency, playing the role of underdog. Mr Karun is better known to Don Muang constituents who generally hold him in high regard.
Another fascinating race is taking place in the constituency covering Yannawa and Sathon. It features a young, well-known banker against an equally well-known television soap opera star. The banker is Oxford educated Korn Chatikavanij, former president of the international financial powerhouse JP Morgan. The television star is Danuporn “Brook” Punnakant who, with two bachelor’s degrees and a master’s degree in economics from Seattle University in the US, is no academic slouch himself.
As a Democrat, Korn may hold a slight advantage since the district has traditionally been a party stronghold. In fact, it was once represented by Democrat heavyweight Abhisit Vejjajiva. But with his high name-recognition and TRT backing, Danuporn is probably more than just another dark horse.
Upcountry, the TRT looks unbeatable everywhere but in the Democrat’s southern strongholds. In the Northeast, party leaders are predicting almost a clean sweep – at least 120 out of the 130-plus seats at stake.
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