THAILAND’S RULING Democrats made a final push to rally support ahead of an election tomorrow, the country’s first vote since last year’s riots in Bangkok, as the southeast Asian nation seeks a way out of a six-year political crisis.
Opinion polls show Yingluck Shinawatra, the younger sister of the exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, enjoys a strong lead over the Democrats, led by prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. Mr Vejjajiva is fighting for his political life after less than three years in office.
Ms Yingluck has been the face of the election, a TV-friendly 44-year-old businesswoman who would become Thailand’s first woman leader if she wins.
Finance minister Korn Chatikavanij said the very fact the election was taking place at all was a positive thing.
“It’s going to be good news. Who could have imagined one year ago we’d be having free elections today? A year ago, Thailand was on the brink of civil war. This is a great development,” the former JP Morgan banker said in an interview at a rally at the King Rama V monument.
The rally organisers shouted out the names of various districts of Bangkok and parts of Thailand where people had travelled from. The party is the oldest in Thailand, but has not won a general election in nearly two decades.
“Surat Thani! Udon Thani! Chiang Mai!” the crowd shouted, earning enthusiastic applause with each name.
Last year so-called Red Shirts, who support Mr Thaksin, occupied downtown Bangkok for two months, triggering a face-off between the ruling elite and the disenfranchised poor. The protest led to a military crackdown in which more than 90 people died.
Asked if he was worried about violence, Mr Korn said, firmly: “No! Why wouldn’t I be optimistic? Look around at the rallies in Bangkok. I have all reasons to be optimistic.”
He would not be drawn initially on what he thought the outcome would be, but said finally: “My guess is we will be in government.”
There have been many reports of vote-buying, with the Thaksin camp the focus of most accusations.
Mr Korn said: “There has been a lot of money spent on this election but to be fair, it’s not all being spent by the Reds.”
Surasak Chatchatphaipoon, a Bangkok businessman, said: “There was a lot of money spent by the Reds in this campaign. It’s unfair because they started the riots last year. I want Mr Abhisit to continue in the job. If a new government comes in I hope it continues with the job. If they don’t, Thailand will be stuck in the mud and countries like Vietnam will start to overtake us.
“The Thai people are not in harmony, and that’s a shame. I’m 68 years old now and I’ve been here all my life and the country still hasn’t really grown up. If Thai people had harmony, we would be one of the top countries in the world. It’s all because of one man – Thaksin,” he added.
Mr Thaksin describes his sister as his “clone” and is the de facto leader of the opposition Puea Thai Party, despite living in Dubai. He fled Thailand in 2008 before a court sentenced him in absentia to two years in prison for corruption.
He remains a hero to the rural electorate and the urban poor, especially in his power base in northern Thailand, where he is known for his common touch and populism. But the former policeman is loathed by the ruling elite who see him as corrupt and a threat to the revered monarchy.
Sanguan Srimueng (70) said he didn’t know who he’d vote for.
“The Reds burned the city. I think we may have more trouble ahead, and I’m afraid we may have more riots, but things are going to be okay,” said Mr Sanguan.
A bus pulled up from Nong Jok, a rural area on the outskirts of north Bangkok, and a group of Muslim women stepped off to join the rally.
Varee Maair Kabilikam (65) said: “My father was a leader in this party, it’s been in our family a long time. No one paid for us to get here.”
She added: “When something goes wrong, if we have floods or other disasters, the Democrats give us aid and help us secure a fair price for our produce. And the government has started to give us 500 baht (€11.20) per week to us senior citizens as a pension.”
At CentreWorld shopping mall, which last year was torched by Red Shirt protesters after the leadership of their movement stepped down, a group of transsexual models in golden lamé costumes were taking part in an initiative aimed at encouraging people to get out and vote.
“These elections are important because we are choosing a leader for our country,” said one model.
In a fashion shop, the shopkeeper was optimistic: “The shop was burned last year. It’s going to be a big election, people agree to go forward. I hope business will get better.”