The Thai Political Impasse Continues as Sides Prepare Next Steps

A series of recent moves suggest that Thailand's two political factions — the Red populist movement that supports the ruling Pheu Thai party and the Yellow royalist movement in the opposition — have entered into negotiations.

 

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has left Bangkok, the opposition stronghold, to tour the northeast and rally her supporters, while royalist protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban has partially withdrawn his protests in the capital. Formal and informal negotiations are underway, probably to see if the two sides can agree to conditions under which the opposition would allow Pheu Thai to finish the disrupted Feb. 2 elections and remain in office.

 

Still, both sides are also preparing for renewed confrontation as the current episode of the political crisis that began in 2005 continues. A judicial or military coup is still an option, but Red Shirt supporters are threatening mass protests if the government falls. This means that the opposition has an incentive to continue dragging out the impasse.