Don't underestimate the charm factor

Before you Yingluck-haters start bombarding me on the social media, this article is meant primarily for those entertaining the idea that her elder sister Yaowapa Wongsawat could do a better job. I’m not saying Yingluck is a good politician; I just want to point out that she’s the best there is – as far as her political camp is concerned. 

I don’t believe that Yaowapa is seeking a House seat just for kicks. Equally silly is the theory that Pheu Thai MPs are so indisciplined in Parliament that they need someone like her to keep them in line. The most nonsensical explanation concerning Yaowapa’s potential entry into Parliament as an MP, however, is that she would be able to “help” Yingluck by advising her or drawing political fire away from her.

Here’s someone who is a sister to two prime ministers and the wife of a third. You therefore have the right to suspect that big plans are being mapped out for Yaowapa. What could an MP Yaowapa do that a non-MP Yaowapa can’t, after all? Already, she can slap rowdy Pheu Thai lawmakers, one by one, and order their party salaries cut. Already, she can advise Yingluck, act as a go-between for the government and Thaksin, or present herself as a decoy to draw enemy fire.

An MP Yaowapa can’t dress up the rice price pledging programme or “sex up” other government spending sprees. With the Bt2 trillion borrowing plan for infrastructure mega-projects being a matter of life and death for the government, could an MP Yaowapa go toe to toe with critics of the plan? To sum it up, what difference can Yaowapa make as an MP?

Being an MP constitutionally qualifies Yaowapa to become a substitute for Bridget Jones. Call me paranoid, but I’m afraid that it will be the case, which I don’t like. No offence to Yaowapa, but she’s a few years older and a few pounds heavier than, unofficially, the world’s most beautiful national leader. The big guns at Pheu Thai may think Yaowapa is more politically capable or shrewd, but I say replace Yingluck at your own peril.

Don’t get me wrong. Yingluck incurs contempt. Much contempt, in fact. But she is non-confrontational and her apparent naivety has served not only as her immunity but also as the government’s. The wise thing for Pheu Thai to do is keep contempt as contempt. In other words, they must not turn contempt into some extreme, inflammatory hatred. 

It’s true that Yingluck appeared “weak” during the flood crisis in late 2011. It’s true that she can’t defend “reconciliation” or “amnesty” or charter overhaul to save her life. And it’s true that she should be kept away from any forum debating the Bt2 trillion master plan.

But it’s also possible that a Pheu Thai government led by anybody else could have crumbled during the flood disaster. It’s possible that a more aggressive Pheu Thai prime minister could have seen the “reconciliation” bomb blown up in his or her face already. The rice price pledging scheme may already have ruined everything by now. And last but not least, imagine a “Prime Minister Yaowapa Wongsawat” saying “My government needs to borrow Bt2 trillion and, hey, it has nothing to do with my brother Thaksin.”

This is not to say that Yingluck is the best solution. But because Thai politics is not about long-term survival, she is the solution if the idea is to last just a bit longer. Who else could have the Foreign Ministry issue Thaksin with a new passport and liaise for his high-profile overseas trips and then just giggle off reporters’ questions?

Yaowapa? Be my guest. She may have the air of toughness about her, but she lacks Yingluck’s natural charm and flexibility. If speculation about replacing the prime minister with Yaowapa turns out to be true, I for one will fasten my seatbelt. Well, if a “thrill ride” analogy is too unkind at this point to unproven Yaowapa, I’ll ask you this: If we were in a big classroom and had to choose one of the two sisters as our teacher, who would it be? 

Enough said.