Much of the Thai electorate now concludes that the gamble it took in the last election isn’t really paying off. Less than a year into his second term as prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra finds himself struggling for political survival.

OVERDRIVE: From grass-roots politics to Thailand Grand Sale

Is Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra putting Thailand up for sale? It really looks like it. On Wednesday, more than 100 ambassadors, diplomats and international-agency heads went shopping at Government House. Thaksin looked very comfortable in his role of salesman. He appealed to his foreign guests to take a look at all the key sectors of Thailand, from mass transit systems, water resources and education to defence, which he announced were to be opened up to foreign investors.

Dealing with the unsettling effects of a political hangover

Since coming to power in 2001, the administration of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has touted its two-pill remedy for kicking the post-1997 hangover: boosting consumption and promoting exports.

ARUN’S VIEW: Non-issues expose TRT haters

“Have you gained weight recently?” “Is this press conference being held to show that, contrary to rumours, you’re not pregnant?”