It's her Big Day. Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin's younger sister, was today officially named leader of Pheau Thai Party in the battle for premiership after the July 3 General Election.
She will be the No 1 on the Pheau Thai's party list, paving the way for the possibility of Thailand's having the first female prime minister, if Thaksin accomplishes his plan to win the polls and install his party to be the next government. Under his ambitious plan, the new Pheau Thai-led government with his sister at the head will make enough amendments to the law to enable him to return to Thailand, probably towards the end of the year.
Yingluck, in her first major political speech, thanked the party's executive committee for choosing her as the team leader. Thaksin will make no secret of the fact that he was the one who handpicked Yingluck to that post -- and the party's deliberations on the issue were simply a formality.
Yingluck said she was ready to lead the party into this major election. "The coup has taught me many political lessons," she declared.
She said it would be too early to discuss Thaksin's future.
"I hope you will offer me the kind of trust and confidence you gave to my brother, Thaksin," she declared.
Abhisit was quick to welcome Yingluck to the political arena, insisting that he is ready to debate her anytime, anywhere.
Yingluck has not commented on the Democrat Party's challenge for live debate.
Abhisit, on the other hand, said: "It doesn't matter whether it's a man or a woman. The new prime minister has to serve the people all the same."
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