Nattawut denies Thaksin amnesty deal and vote trade rumors
Nattawut Saikuar refutes claims that Thaksin Shinawatra pressured the social harmony committee for an amnesty to trade votes for the no-confidence debate on Nov 2, 2026.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Nattawut Saikuar denies rumors of a secret deal between Thaksin Shinawatra and the government over amnesty.
- He clarifies that the petition submitted to the social harmony committee aims to clear a criminal record.
- States that Thaksin has no remaining prison sentences and that lese-majeste cases must follow court processes.
- Points out that the government coalition holds stable support, rendering the vote-trading rumor false.
On November 2, 2026, Nattawut Saikuar, a former leader of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), posted a photo of himself alongside former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Facebook, addressing widespread political rumors concerning an alleged backroom deal.
Recent reports suggested that Thaksin had exerted pressure on the Social Harmony Promotion Committee to fast-track his amnesty petition in exchange for securing votes from the Pheu Thai Party during the upcoming no-confidence debate in parliament. Nattawut immediately stepped forward to refute these allegations, dismissing them as entirely baseless.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Nattawut clarified the legal status of Thaksin's cases, noting that there are no remaining prison sentences from any judicial rulings as all matters were finalized following his release. He explained that submitting a petition to the Social Harmony Promotion Committee to request the expungement of a criminal record is a legal right available equally to all Thai citizens, since the original cases stemmed from the powers of the military coup.
Context: The Social Harmony Promotion Committee was established to review reconciliation frameworks and address political grievances from past conflicts. Operating under specific statutory guidelines, the committee is legally required to exclude certain categories of offenses, such as royal defamation under Section 112, ensuring they remain subject to standard judicial review.
Regarding the deliberation process, Nattawut stated that the final decision rests entirely with the committee, which is reportedly still reviewing the matter within its sub-committee vetting stage. Furthermore, regarding the Section 112 case currently pending appeal in the Appeal Court, he emphasized that it must be contested through normal legal channels because the law explicitly excludes such offenses from the social harmony act.
Nattawut added that during the committee's initial meeting, submission channels were opened both online and directly through the Office of the Permanent Secretary to the Prime Minister. Consequently, it remains unknown how many individuals have submitted requests, and the committee must meticulously examine the legal and factual aspects of each case before the final outcomes are publicly disclosed.
"It is likely both fake news and a fake deal, because looking at actual political realities, the government coalition's support base is not in a precarious or pressured position."
Nattawut Saikuar
Concluding his statement, the former UDD leader asserted that the rumor of a deal to exchange committee approval for parliamentary votes is a fabrication, noting that the coalition government's parliamentary numbers are sufficiently stable and do not warrant such maneuvering.
Source: Khaosod Politics
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