Former Thai PM Thaksin downplays rift, confirms coalition support for casino bill
Thailand’s former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has dismissed concerns about tensions between the ruling Pheu Thai Party and its coalition partner, Bhumjaithai Party, asserting that the alliance remains strong despite recent disagreements over the controversial Entertainment Complex Bill.
Thaksin, the father of current Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, said any differences between the two parties could be managed and were not serious enough to threaten the government’s stability. “This is normal in politics,” he said. “We may sometimes have misunderstandings, but Bhumjaithai knows well that we don’t have real conflicts.”
Entertainment Complex Bill sparks debate
The Entertainment Complex Bill—spearheaded by the Pheu Thai Party and already approved by the Cabinet—seeks to legalise casinos as part of broader entertainment zones. However, the bill has sparked public debate and resistance from groups such as the People’s Party and the Senate, who argue the proposal is focused solely on casino legalisation.
Defending the bill, Thaksin said that the public was misled. “Those groups moving to oppose the measure were distorting information with the intent of misguiding the public that the bill was all about casino legalisation, which was untrue.”
He stated that the bill includes plans for large-scale entertainment complexes, and that casinos would form only a minor component. “The coalition has enough votes in the House to pass the bill,” he added while urging the government to “listen carefully to the public to ensure most people really have no problem with the bill.”
Bhumjaithai’s mixed signals
Recently, Bhumjaithai Party secretary-general Chaichanok Chidchob had stirred a controversy by stating during a House debate that he would never support casino legalisation. The statement raised questions about coalition unity.
When asked if he had spoken with Newin Chidchob, Chaichanok’s father and a key Bhumjaithai figure, Thaksin said it was unnecessary. He noted that party leader Anutin Charnvirakul had already reassured Prime Minister Paetongtarn that Bhumjaithai would not vote against the bill.
“I understand them well. We can manage the conflicts, and we’re still at a stage where there are no serious rifts,” Thaksin said, expressing confidence the coalition would remain intact throughout the current parliamentary term.
He also commented simply, “Politics is politics,” when asked whether he believed Bhumjaithai would support the bill until the end. On Bhumjaithai’s internal reaction to the proposal, he remarked: “Bhumjaithai is Bhumjaithai.”
Delay in House debate
Despite growing opposition and planned protests, the bill’s reading in the Lower House was recently deferred to the next parliamentary session, scheduled to begin in two months. Initially expected to be discussed last Wednesday, the government pulled back due to other urgent matters, including reciprocal tariffs imposed by the United States.
“That’s fine. It might be a little slower but when it is time for the prime minister to make decisions, she will do it,” said Thaksin.
While mentioning that the entertainment complex bill could wait, Thaksin maintained the government had sufficient backing from its MPs to move forward when the time was right. “And the Senate’s objections to the bill are its problem [not ours],” he said.
