Thailand's prime minister, Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra, is a survivor. Since taking office five years ago, he has weathered allegations of corruption and malfeasance, charges of nepotism, an insurgency in Thailand's southern provinces and even a public rebuke by the king. Yet, he has bested every challenge and seen his public support increase.
Now Mr. Thaksin's behavior is again being scrutinized. And once again, the controversy around his policies is likely to be offset by the popularity he enjoys among the Thai people.
Mr. Thaksin is one of Asia's richest men. He made most of his money in telecommunications during the go-go 1990s when the Thai economy was one of the hottest in the world. His wealth won him considerable support among the Thai people. When he claimed the prime minister's office in 2001, he was obliged to divest himself of much of that wealth.