Thaksin eyes Thai youth vote in pre-election rebranding

Ex-PM harnesses social media, but hesitance to tackle monarchy debate could cost votes

20211030 Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra

Thaksin Shinawatra earlier this year began using a virtual room in the voice chat app Clubhouse in an attempt to attract young voters. © Reuters

MARWAAN MACAN-MARKAR, Asia regional correspondent

October 30, 2021 18:00 JST

BANGKOK -- From his perch in self-imposed exile, former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is reaching out to the country's young voters through social media, setting the stage to test his political brand as talk swirls in the halls of power of an early general election for Thailand in 2022.