Thaksin quits

Sir Tokyo Sexwale · April 5, 2006

Thailand?s prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, will be replaced by his chief deputy, Chidchai Vanasathidya. The dramatic move comes a few days after Mr Thaksin won a strong but reduced mandate in a snap election that the main opposition boycotted. But political certainty is not yet assured.

CHOKING on his words, at times close to tears, Thaksin Shinawatra went on national television on Tuesday night and announced his resignation as Thailand?s prime minister. There was nothing left of the tough-guy image that the former cop turned business tycoon had cultivated. Though Mr Thaksin says he won 16m of the 28m votes cast in a snap election held two days earlier, this is down from 19m in the 2005 election, partly because of a lower turnout and partly because so many voters selected the ?no vote? box on their ballot papers, as urged by the main opposition parties, which boycotted the election.

Thank feck we never went with him

stressederic · April 5, 2006

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