In his father's footsteps
Guy Wichaidit always wanted to be like his father. But he didn't want his father to help him achieve that ambition. "I don't want to hear people say I am a politician because my father is a politician," said the 33-year-old son of Deputy Prime Minister an
Guy, 33, desired to be a politician through his own efforts. But his entry into politics was sudden, and not as he had planned.
He expected to finish his doctoral degree in political science in France before entering politics, but he had to change his mind after the People Power Party was dissolved in 2008 and his father was elected a Pheu Thai Party leader. His father's secretary resigned, so he had to help his father.
"The party was having a hard time - even some friends stayed away from it and from my father. I am his son, I love him, I love democracy, so I jumped into politics by standing beside my father," he said.
He said he became interested in politics while studying political science at Chulalongkorn University when met a girl who dreamed about working for a politician. "She was my inspiration to enter a political life."
He thinks politics is a universe combining both theory and the practical - rhetoric, personality, human relations. But a politician is not a universe, each politician has his own ability and individuality. Some politicians can debate in parliament, some are power negotiators and some have good human relations - like he does.
He said he developed strong human relations because when he was young his father was a government officer and always on the move, from province to province. It meant Guy had a few friends, but when he returned to an old province he had problems talking with them naturally.
"[However] I thought if I did not meet with others and start talking with them, I would have no friends."
His first entry into politics in 2008 was not full-time. He was also studying in France. But, after May 21 this year he had to work full-time with his father, now a deputy prime minister and interior minister in the Yingluck government, now a key member of the Yingluck government.
Guy said now he is a personal secretary to his father. His work includes making appointments, taking care of documents, and coordinating work in the office and field.
On the man alleged to be his father's real boss, Guy said the Pheu Thai Party had to rely on former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, because Thaksin is like the party's "poster boy" and people trust him.
