Thai PM Paetongtarn grilled in censure motion over father Thaksin's influence

Thailand's opposition on March 24 grilled Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on the first day of a parliamentary no-confidence motion, accusing her of being unqualified and of allowing her powerful father to wield influence over her administration.

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BANGKOK - Thailand's opposition on March 24 grilled Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on the first day of a parliamentary no-confidence motion, accusing her of being unqualified and of allowing her powerful father to wield influence over her administration.

The opposition People's Party said Ms Paetongtarn was taking direction from her father, divisive political heavyweight Thaksin Shinawatra, a billionaire former premier who is banned from holding office over a conviction for conflicts of interest and abuse of power that kept him in self-exile for 15 years.

"We have a leader outside of the system...directing government policies without any accountability," People's Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut told Parliament.

"Thailand is at a double loss: one person works without accountability, another who holds state power lacks qualifications," he said.

Despite lukewarm ratings in opinion polls, Ms Paetongtarn enters the two-day debate in a firm position, with no signs of turmoil in a ruling coalition that commands a parliamentary majority, making it unlikely the motion will prosper when it goes to a vote on March 26.