DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, April 8 (UPI) -- Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra says Thailand is "at a crossroads" with elections coming up after a period of political instability.
In an interview published Friday in The Wall Street Journal, Thaksin said he hopes to influence Thailand's economic policy if the opposition wins. Thaksin, who has been exiled from Thailand since 2008, spoke at his home in Dubai.
"Thailand's democracy is at a crossroads," he said. "What's happening in the Middle East and North Africa tells you that the whole world, the majority of people, are changing because of the influence of what they see outside of their own country and the impact of the Internet and social networks."
Thaksin, who built a telecommunications empire before going into politics, said the country needs to cut corporate tax rates to be competitive with countries in the region like Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.
Thaksin says he has hopes of amnesty if the opposition Four Thais Party wins the election. He left Thailand after being convicted of corruption charges he says were politically motivated.
