Thaksin praises Mahathir over win, as Pheu Thai awaits election

“The power of the people has spoken loud and clear that they do not only remember his outstanding legacy but needed his leadership,” Thaksin wrote on his Facebook status. He also posted a photo of himself shaking hand with Mahathir at Apec’s 2003 meeting in Thailand 2003.
“His leadership [will] undoubtedly reinvigorate Asean as well as ideas and visions that he helped shape,” he said.
Mahathir, already has a legacy for his 22-year career as the elected premier, and for leading Malaysia through the 1997 Asian financial crisis. He returns to the top post aged 92, after defeating Najib, whose popularity had been in decline following a major corruption scandal.
Thaksin was also hit by similar scandals during his premiership in 2006, but was ousted by a military coup rather than by an election. He has been in self-exile since then.
His sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, also an ex-PM, also lost power in a coup. The 2014 coup brought General Prayut Chan-o-cha to the premier’s seat amid international criticism of undemocratic practices.
Thaksin earlier predicted that the Pheu Thai Party, the third incarnation of the Thai Ruk Thai Party that he founded, will win a landslide victory in the yet-to-come election despite the junta’s influence.