Dinner with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra

InterContinental Hotel. Bangkok, Thailand. March 23, 2012. The FCCT invites the Thai prime minister to dinner annually, in what is a very classy affair, one I enjoy attending. All prime ministers, except Thaksin Shinawatra himself, have accepted the invitation, but this year, Thaksin sent his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, who is acting as prime minister on her brother’s behalf, while he lives in Dubai, plotting his return to Thailand under circumstances in which he will not have to serve the two-year jail sentence for official corruption, from which he fled Thailand to avoid, about four years ago.

PM Yingluck gave what I imagine to be her stock speech, which was replete with platitudes and devoid of anything she hasn’t been quoted in the press as saying many times previously. Thaksin was quite perceptive in selecting his sister to act as his puppet and figurehead: she’s pretty, charming, intelligent enough, compliant, and seems free of any desire to either acquire to retain power. When Thaksin is ready, he will discard her, and I doubt that she, having ably kept the seat of power warm for him, will object to returning to her protected position as head of one of of his vast companies. In the meantime, the Thai people seem quite content with Yingluck. As for me, if I have to choose between looking at Thaksin or Yingluck, I will choose Yingluck any day.

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra Shiniwatra is very pretty and personable.

I very much enjoyed the dinner.

PM Yingluck reads her prepared address in English, after which she answered questions, also in English, from the foreign press.

A smiling PM Yingluck leaves the FCCT dinner after a very successful evening.