BANGKOK — Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra confidently responded to opposition accusations during the first day of a no-confidence motion on Monday. With composure and a controlled demeanor, the 38-year-old PM demonstrated what she calls her “Gen-Y Prime Minister” style, offering brief but impactful rebuttals.
The highlight covered by both mainstream media and social platforms was her first stand to address accusations from General Prawit Wongsuwan, head of the Palang Pracharath Party and Pheu Thai’s former coalition partner. When accused of falsely declaring her assets, Paetongtarn referenced the general’s own controversial past involving “borrowed watches” scandal.
“According to my own watch, the senior member has been speaking for 10 minutes with content that is completely untrue,” she remarked before promptly sitting down. This statement mirrored General Prawit’s own brief response during a no-confidence debate when he served as deputy prime minister in 2021.
“I Have Paid More Taxes”
The opposition’s overall strategy focused on allegations that Paetongtarn was being unduly influenced by her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Critics centered their attacks on Shinawatra family business dealings, land purchases, and tax avoidance claims.
In response to fiery accusations from Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, a People’s Party MP who claimed she evaded taxes, the Prime Minister firmly stated: “On the contrary, although I am younger than the debater, I am confident that I have paid more taxes to the state than he has.”
Addressing allegations regarding the purchase of land later developed into the Alpine Golf Course, which was allegedly monastic property, Paetongtarn pointed out that this occurred when she was just 11 years old and not a company director. She emphasized that all family land purchases were properly documented with legal titles issued by government agencies, and any subsequent legal disputes were left to the justice system.
Deal to Bring Thaksin Home
Other accusations against Paetongtarn included failures to address chronic problems such as the slumping economy, air pollution, crime, and corruption. Critics claimed her administration was ineffective because she was serving family interests rather than the country’s, with the opposition framing the debate under the theme “Trading the Country in a Deal.”
Natthapong Ruengpanyawut, leader of the People’s Party (the successor to the dissolved Move Forward Party that won the most seats in the 2023 election), suggested that Pheu Thai’s coalition with former conservative rivals was part of a political bargain to bring Thaksin home. Government supporters countered that Pheu Thai had fully supported the Move Forward Party leader’s bid for prime minister, but Move Forward itself couldn’t form a government.
40 Uyghurs’ Deportation
A significant international issue raised during the debate concerned the deportation of 40 Uyghurs who had been detained in Thailand for over a decade. While the Prime Minister delegated responses on this matter, Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong, who led Thai officials on a visit to Xinjiang last week, defended the decision.
Kannavee Suebsang, leader of the Fair Party, criticized the deportation as damaging Thailand’s neutrality between major powers and drawing condemnation from the United States and European nations.
The Justice Minister explained that detention conditions were inhumane, comparing them to animal cages holding over a thousand people, with four deaths already recorded. He stated that all deportees had volunteered to return after video communications with previously deported Uyghurs, and invited critics to verify this through official information requests.
“Even though we face pressure from major powers, providing 40 people with better lives represents justice and human dignity,” Tawee said. “I regret that some speakers use derogatory language—not just against me, but against people who now have better lives and against China, a UN power that you accuse of cruelty.”
Prime Minister Paetongtarn, who took office last year, is expected to survive this first no-confidence vote on Wednesday, backed by her ruling coalition that holds the majority in the House of Representatives.
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