Phitsanulok: Pheu Thai spokesman clarified that Thaksin’s participation in the Team Thailand meeting was normal. Every government can invite knowledgeable and capable people to give their opinions. He emphasized that in the past, the Chuan Leekpai government had also invited Thaksin to Government House to ask for help in trade negotiations with the Australian government.

According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Danupon Punnakan, MP for the party list and spokesman for the Pheu Thai Party, spoke about the criticism of inviting former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to join the discussion with Team Thailand to find a solution to the US tax measures at his home in Phitsanulok on July 11th. He said that all parties should consider this matter by putting aside personal biases and political biases and looking at the facts. It is very normal for the government or ministers to invite outsiders to discuss for discussions for every government in the world that wants to find the best way to solve the problems of our people. Moreover, the problem of the US tax measures is currently an important issue that the government is trying to urgently solve.

In the past, when Thailand faced a major economic crisis, the Tom Yum Kung crisis, which severely affected Thai people, the Democrat Party government at that time led by Mr. Chuan Leekpai and with Mr. Supachai Panitchpakdi as Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, had invited a person named Thaksin Shinawatra to Government House to ask for assistance for the government in trade negotiations with Australia.

‘Thailand is currently facing many challenges. The fact that we have people with knowledge, ability, and most importantly, direct experience in leading the country out of the major economic crisis has given Thailand hope of escaping the middle-income trap. We should use their knowledge and experience as a factor in considering solving the current problems. The fact that we have people like this but do not think of using their knowledge and ability to help support the current Thai economic situation is a pity,’ said Mr. Danupon.