Bangkok: Academics are questioning whether the recent elections between Asavahem and Pheu Thai Party will be a revival of the casino policy. They are also cautioning that it may be promoted as a campaign policy.
According to Thai News Agency, Associate Professor Olar Thinbangtiew, a lecturer at the Faculty of Political Science and Law at Burapha University, commented on the Pheu Thai Party's move to bring the "Asavaheme" family into the party in preparation for the election. He viewed the phenomenon as a "political season," in which each party seeks to strengthen itself before the general election. However, there are also important issues worth keeping an eye on.
Assoc. Prof. Olar explained that the Asavaheme family has long been one of the most influential political groups in Samut Prakan Province, thanks to its local network structure and decades of control over the area. However, in recent times, this power group has tended to "diminish its role," due to factors including weaker intergenerational inheritance and changes in internal governance. This has led some political parties to see opportunities to bolster or reunite their forces.
Assoc. Prof. Olar stated that the issue that has attracted particular attention this time around is the context surrounding the casino concept, which has been raised numerous times in the political arena. The Pheu Thai Party has previously expressed support for legalizing casinos at certain times. Meanwhile, the name of Mr. Watana Asavaheme, a key figure in the family, has also appeared in business news stories related to casino operations in Cambodia. Certain alignments between the Pheu Thai Party and the Asavaheme family have sparked debate over whether the two parties see mutual policy benefits, particularly regarding casinos, which could be incorporated into new proposals in the next election.
"The question isn't who the Asavahem family chooses to be with, but rather, if they join a party that has openly discussed casino policies in the past, what direction will the policy outcomes take, and will they be used as a campaign strategy?" said Assoc. Prof. Olar.
Academics also caution that political groups collaborating with major parties is not uncommon in Thai politics. However, what warrants close attention is the potential policy consequences, particularly socially sensitive policies such as the casino policy, which has long been a topic of debate in parliament and Thai society.