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Crippling blows
Thailand’s much-vaunted hopes of establishing integrated resort casinos (IRCs) by 2019 have taken a series of crippling blows recently. Now, the suspension of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has the potential to kill the entire project.
phone calls between her and controversial former Cambodian leader Hun Sen
Paetongtarn drew the ire of Thais last month after the leaking of phone calls between her and controversial former Cambodian leader Hun Sen. The PM allegedly called him “father” and referred to the Thai military as the “enemy” in Cambodia.
Despite a public apology from Paetongtarn, her Pheu Thai administration was plunged into turmoil after the powerful Bhumjaithai Party withdrew from the ruling two-party political coalition.
With additional pressure coming from civic groups for the Pheu Thai party to withdraw its Integrated Resort bill, the Constitutional Court voted 7-2 to suspend Paetongtarn as PM.
Political intrigue
Paetongtarn’s suspension comes from a senatorial request to remove the PM from office on charges of sedition. The opposition senators allege Paetongtarn’s criticism of the Thai army, after it engaged in a firefight on May 28 that left a Cambodian dead, “negatively affected the nation’s sovereignty.”
Paetongtarn now has two weeks to provide evidence in support of lifting her suspension.
According to Inside Asian Gaming, she will still hold some political power despite her suspension, after she assigned herself the role of cabinet minister only hours before the Constitutional Court’s ruling “as part of a Cabinet reshuffle.”
Uncertainty reigns
As Thailand enters another political vacuum, it leaves the possibility of Paetongtarn being forced out of power just like her predecessor Srettha Thavisin was in 2024. This creates uncertainty for the likes of MGM Resorts International and Wynn Resorts, who have both expressed a desire to secure Thai IRC licenses.
The opposition People’s Party has also allied with a coalition of civic groups in calling for Paetongtarn administration to withdraw both its retail and online casino bills.
In addition, last month, Thailand’s National Institute of Development Administration released results of a survey in which 56.7% of Thais voted against legalizing IRs.
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