Thailand’s New PM: A “Gentle” Man?
Parliament voted yesterday to make Somchai Wongsawat Thailand’s new PM, pending royal endorsement and he has an uphill task ahead of him– the first of which is how to get into his office at Government House which has turned swampy from the three week long PAD occupation. The protesters there have already said no to any PPP candidate and the fact that Mr Somchai is Mr Thaksin’s brother-in-law is certainly not winning any hearts and minds…but what has captured my attention is the characterisation of Mr Somchai by fellow politicians from both sides of the political spectrum.
The world “gentle” has been used over and over and it’s just not an adjective too often applied to politicians. However, in the Thai context, this notion of “gentleness” connotes an ability to reconcile differences– a great contrast to the well worn idea that a politician must be tough talking or acting to get things done. Perhaps because Mr Somchai’s personality is the polar opposite of the man he replaced–Samak Sundaravej–the comparison is especially interesting. Mr Samak was someone who was brash, outspoken and considered by many to be rude–quite contrary to the Thai ideal of “gentleness,” especially when it comes to speech and etiquette.
I wonder how the adjective “gentle” as applied to a leader would go down in other political contests around the world? Positively or negatively? I can imagine some interesting responses…and maybe a “Gentle-gate” scandal!
And for those of you wondering about any legal skeletons in the new PM’s closet–there likely aren’t any as Mr Somchai was formerly a judge and is well versed in the letter of the law. I feel the need to highlight it since Mr Samak was disqualified for hosting a cooking show while in office–which has to be one of the more bizarre reasons for the resignation of a sitting PM in the annals of history.
It also spawned a thousand puns–this kind of world play makes us news people crack a smile.
So we can say that Mr Samak stirred the pot, landed in hot water, found himself in a soup and eventually got burned.
Tags: politics, Somchai, Thailand
September 23rd, 2008 at 1:25 pm
I do agree wz u tt later Thai generations wl do doubt find it extremely bizarre and if I may be bold, bemused tt one of it’s PM was disqualified for hosting a cook show!.
As for Mr. Somchai’s appointment, I do feel tt the current standoff wz the opposition & it’s hordes of supporters wl be swiftly solved if only The King wud step out & lend his support.
It wud be nice if the Thai people cud move on fm here & work closely to achieve more for both their country & themselves. The elites in Bkk shud allow this newly elected PM a chance to prove his worth. The people shud stand by him & his cabinet. The opposition shud step aside & allow Mr. Somchai to begin his work to help make Thailand a better place to live in for all & later generations to come. I strongly believe tt this is possible if everyone play their part.
October 8th, 2008 at 10:25 am
PM Somchai …. A Gentle man??? will find out after tue morning tear gas
October 11th, 2008 at 3:54 am
i guess you can never have a perfect goernment anywhere in the world. But one has to move on for the country sake. What is regretfull is that the PAD manipulating the followers by encouraging these crazy demonstrations. Their current stand is fundamentally moving towards a neo-feudal country where the rich and priviledge gets the cream and the poor ordinbary folks must do the work to support their coffers.
I doubt the leaders of the PAD party are geninue in wanting to bring down corruption as i am sure they equally have their own brand of corruptionwhen ithey come to power. I believe they did not get their fair share of hte coffers during Thaksin time.
Thailand has one of the leading democracies in SEA. The PPP has been strong in the rural areas because they are willing to share the country wealth with the rural folks and their strategy worked and hence gaining the overwhelming support for the PPP party.
If PAD do care about the country and the people, they should initiate programs to win over the supporters of PPP in the north and not use these “hooligan” tactics. It gives a bad taste but reinforce a very uncouth, mafia tactic of “if you can’t win, play dirty”
Just hope that all this come to past as it has affected the country and livlihood of the people of thailand. lets see…….
October 30th, 2008 at 11:55 am
Mr. Somchai shud cast away his ‘nice guy’ approach & take the opposition & it’s hordes of campers in the Paliament Hse head on!.
I think these last few wks hv clearly shown tt the PAD is just a bunch of power craving society bent on destruction to achieve it’s aim!. These hooligans need to be stopped immediately!.
Why hasn’t the King come out to quell the situation???. What is the police & army planning to do wz the PAD & it’s supporters???. This cannot go on!.
Mr. Somchai shud rule wz an iron fist!. If this situation is allowed to persist, nothing good wl result fm it. Put a stop to it now!. The elites in Bkk shud stop supporting the PAD!. PAD is surviving fm the funds received fm the elites in Bkk. They shud realise by now tt the agenda behind PAD wl bring only destruction, bloodshed & more chaos to the people of Thailand!.
Mr. Somchai shud & must be firm!. There’s no other way to end this. PAD wl only take advantage of the situation & cause more harm to the country!.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Is the PAD a front for someone???. Is that someone a person so revere by many & welds power even over the army, police & government???. Is this person putting an end to an ever growing resentment among the mass craving for changes???. Is this a trend seen repeatedly occuring in Thailand’s history of bloody coups???. Are the cries for changes an indication for a change in rule???. Is the newly formed government wz it’s ideals, assumingly inherited from the last government, a threat to this person???.
I truly hope that we will see a swift & peaceful end to this chaotic tussle between the different factions & not witness another bloody coup, as seen in the past!.
January 24th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
What a great site!Thank you
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