Abhisit Vejjajiva: On the horns of a dilemma

2 Oct 10:16 Key points summarised by AI

Abhisit Vejjajiva, former prime minister and Democrat Party leader, faces a critical choice in the upcoming March 24 election: whether to align with Prayut Chan-o-cha or the political camp associated with Thaksin Shinawatra.
His long political career, which began in 1992, includes a tumultuous premiership from 2008-2011 marked by significant political unrest, protests, and military crackdowns that led to around 90 deaths.
Despite decades in politics, the Democrat Party has not won a general election under his leadership, and he has staked his position on securing at least 100 House seats in the upcoming polls, admitting it might be his last chance at premiership.

Suchada: Meet the reluctant star of Thailand’s cryptic crypto drama

Yesterday 15:38 Key points summarised by AI

Thai MP Suchada Zhang Thaensap faces intense scrutiny over her husband’s substantial 1.84 billion baht wealth, with opposition lawmakers alleging connections to international scam networks.
A significant portion of her husband, Taiyang Zhang's, declared assets includes a 1.44 billion baht loan to the now-bankrupt cryptocurrency hedge fund Three Arrows Capital, which still owes him 1.34 billion baht.
Opposition MP Rangsiman Rome accused Suchada's husband of links to online scam networks and gambling sites, prompting Suchada to vehemently deny the claims, demand evidence, and file a defamation complaint.
Taiyang Zhang's background includes co-founding Ren Protocol, later sold to Alameda Research (linked to the FTX collapse), and some of his former associates have been convicted in crypto company failures.
Suchada, a former actress and first-time MP, maintains her husband's innocence, while her party leaders have distanced themselves from the allegations, deeming it a private matter.