PM Srettha posts photos of Songkran visit to Thaksin
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin paid a high-profile visit to Thaksin Shinawatra at his Bangkok residence on Tuesday, seeking the paroled former prime minister’s Songkran blessings.
Srettha even posted photos of himself garlanding Thaksin with jasmine and pouring water on his hands in the Songkran tradition usually preserved for the elderly and respected family members.
Srettha posted the photos of his visit to Thaksin’s Chan Song Lar residence on X (Twitter).
“I came here to seek New Year blessings from former PM Thaksin, a senior person I respect,” Srettha said in the post.
Thaksin is widely considered to be the patriarch of the ruling Pheu Thai Party.
He returned to Thailand after 15 years in exile following the formation of a coalition government led by Pheu Thai in August last year. Thaksin was arrested but whisked to the Police Hospital in Bangkok on the night of his return, apparently due to health problems. His eight-year sentence for corruption and abuse of power during his coup-shortened 2001-2006 term as PM was then commuted to one year by a royal pardon, before he was controversially released in February after six months in detention, drawing accusations of a backroom deal.
Srettha has repeatedly insisted that he is the only prime minister in Thailand and has full power to rule.
Critics say Srettha is under the control of two “shadow prime ministers” – Thaksin and his daughter, Pheu Thai leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Srettha has repeatedly denied this allegation.
