The Shinawatra clan is back in power but the path ahead is strewn with minefields

Thai PM Paetongtarn’s rise signals the Shinawatra clan’s power consolidation, but questions abound on the continued relevance of Thaksin’s old playbook.

Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra (seated, second from right) and her family at the Pheu Thai party's headquarters in Bangkok after a royal endorsement ceremony on Aug 18. PHOTO: REUTERS
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The month of August delivered fresh twists in Thailand’s endless loop of political instability, serving as a reminder, if anyone needed one, of the kingdom’s deep dysfunctions.

Yet, it may be remembered fondly by billionaire former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his powerful, polarising family.

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