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Srettha Thavisin for PM? Why business mogul could be trump card for Thailand’s Pheu Thai party
- Real estate tycoon rumoured to be among prime ministerial candidates opposition Pheu Thai Party will field for next year’s general election
- Srettha, who advocates equality and fair access to economic opportunities and education, has been viewed as refreshing by many
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Thai real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin has often made headlines for his business deals and forthright remarks on issues from climate change to geopolitics and LGBTQ issues.
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When not selling luxury houses or condominium units for property developer Sansiri which he runs, he shares his views on Twitter, garnering an audience among the young and urban middle class.
But it is Srettha’s criticism of the Prayuth Chan-ocha administration that has made the suave 59-year-old billionaire a household name.
Condemning the Thai police’s violent clashes with pro-democracy protesters on November 18 as global leaders gathered for the Apec summit, Srettha said “the government has pushed us even more backwards in the eyes of the developed world”. He also endorsed a tweet by Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of ex-prime minister Thaksin, criticising the use of rubber bullets by security forces.
Srettha, rumoured to be among the prime ministerial candidates put forward by the opposition Pheu Thai Party – backed by Thaksin – for the general election next year, has so far given no hints about his candidacy.
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