Populist politics
November 9, 2007
Photo: Chart Thai party leader Banharn Silpa-archa gives advice to party spokeswoman Janista Liewchalermwong (left) and chief adviser Pavena Hongsakula during a party meeting yesterday to brief candidates on electoral law restrictions. SAROT MEKSOPHAWANNAKUL
It looks very much political parties during the upcoming campaign will be competing to offer the most appealing "populist" packages to rural voters. Several of these policies are mentioned in the story below. Notice that they all originated with the previous government, one of the reasons former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra remains so popular in many parts of the country.
Critics complain that populist policies are often poorly-disguised giveaways, using taxpayers' money to buy votes. That may be true to some extent, but one thing is for certain. They do get the voters' attention.
candidates – people are trying to get elected ผู้สมัคร
upcoming – going to happen soon ที่กำลังจะมาถึง
campaign – a series of planned activities that are intended to achieve a particular aim, in this case, winning votes in an election การรณรงค์หาเสียงเลือกตั้ง
appealing – attractive or interesting เป็นที่น่าสนใจ
populist – a type of politics that claims to represent the opinions and wishes of ordinary people ประชานิยม
rural – of the countryside outside big towns and cities ต่างจังหวัด
originated – happened or appeared for the first time มีต้นกำเนิด หรือเริ่มมาจาก
disguised – hidden or changed so that it cannot be recognised แฝงหรือซ่อนตัว ปิดบัง กลบเกลื่อน
giveaway – something is is given free ให้เปล่า แจกฟรี
Banharn to adopt ‘useful’ populist policies
SAROT MEKSOPHAWANNAKULChart Thai party leader Banharn Silpa-archa has vowed to adopt some ''useful'' populist policies and even expand them if elected to government. The policies, many of which have been dismissed by critics as squandering national budget, were practised by the previous government of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
These, including the village fund and small, medium, large-scale (SML) enterprise fund could complement the sufficiency economy if they were used appropriately, Mr Banharn told the gathering of Chart Thai election candidates in Bangkok yesterday.
Under the flagship village fund of the Thaksin era, one million baht was lent to each village to develop local communities. The SML policy involved setting aside loans for businesses to encourage entrepreneurial spirit and give owners more power to invest.
Some village loan recipients, however, defaulted after frivolous spending, reflecting weaknesses in the scheme.
But Mr Banharn yesterday said he and his economic team would harmonise the loan schemes to promote moderate living and build a healthier economy for Thailand.
He said one of Chart Thai’s priorities was to stimulate the grassroots economy. The ‘‘useful’’ populist policies such as the village fund would stay while the SML policy would not only carry on but also be expanded.
Once the money was injected and trickled down to the local level, related businesses would prosper.
He said his party could give the overall economy a shot in the arm, which would see a jump in economic growth from 4.5% to 6% six months from taking office.
‘I’m second to none when it comes to sourcing money — not even to Mr Thaksin,’’ Mr Banharn said.
He said if Chart Thai was part of the next government and pushed for the continuation of the schemes and still failed, it would pull out immediately.
He refused to reveal his economic team yesterday. A source said Suchart Jaovisidh, finance minister under the Thaksin government, would lead the team.
Mr Banharn said he did not see himself returning as prime minister because his party would not likely garner the majority of votes in the election.
vowed – made a serious promise ปฏิญาณ
expand – to increase; to make larger ขยายวงกว้าง
dismissed – treated as being unimportant ไม่รับ ปฏิเสธ
squandering – wasting in a stupid or careless way ผลาญ ทำให้เสียเปล่า
ousted – forced to leave a position of power หลุดจากตำแหน่ง
complement – to add something in a way that improves something or makes it more attractive เสริมให้สมบูรณ์
sufficiency economy – an economic principle under which the people of a country are able to meet their own needs by living moderately and in harmony with the natural environment เศรษฐกิขแบบพอเพียง
flagship – the most important product, service, building, etc. that an organisation owns or produces ตัวชูธง หรือ สินค้า / นโยบายสำคัญ หรือหลัก
lent (past of lend) – (of money) given on the condition that it be paid back over a period of time with interest payments made as well) การให้ยืมเงิน
entrepreneurial – (of a business person) willing to take risks in starting or running a new business พร้อมที่จะเริ่มต้นทำกิจการ
recipients – people who receive something ผู้รับ
defaulted – failed to pay back a debt ไม่สามารถชำระหนี้ได้
frivolous – having no useful or serious purpose ไร้ประโยชน์
reflecting – showing; being a sign of something สะท้อนให้เห็น
scheme – a plan or system for doing or organising something แผนการ
harmonise – to cause two or more things to work well together สอดคล้อง
stimulate – to make something develop or become more active กระตุ้น
grassroots – of the ordinary people in a community rather than their leaders ระดับรากหญ้า
injected – put into or given, especially money อัดฉีด
trickled down – to spread through the economic system of a country, especially from the rich to the poor ซึมสู่ระดับล่าง
prosper – to be successful, especially in making money; to develop in a successful way มั่งคั่ง เจริญ เฟื่องฟู
second to none – first, i.e., not second to anyone ไม่เป็นรองใคร
reveal – to make known เผย แสดงให้เห็น
garner – to obtain ไดร้บ