PM's natural charm silences her critics

Re: "Yingluck enters 2013 a survivor", January 1.

Your analysis would have been perfect if you had included her personal strength and the opposition's fumble.

Her light-hearted but sincere mannerisms make it difficult not to like her. Her whirlwind foreign visits serve us well in spite of her broken English. Her meetings with the US president and Queen Elizabeth have placed her in the forefront. Her PR effort is definitely classy without her ever having attended an "ivory" university.

Second, the opposition underestimated right from day one her strength of personality. Some of their unsavoury conduct, especially over the Four Seasons Hotel episode, does not sit well among fair-minded voters. They had temporary glory during the recent no-confidence debate, but then hit the PM's wall of silence.

The PM's charm helps her not to open her mouth unnecessarily. While the opposition ponders, she will complete her four-year term and is likely to win the next election if she doesn't insist on having her brother back without going his through jail term.

Songdej Praditsmanont

Bangkok