Thai Opposition Turns to Rice Farmers in Political Stalemate
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Thailand’s opposition movement is reaching out to rice farmers to break a political stalemate as the nation awaits official election results, seeking to turn a source of support for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
After months of demonstrations led by her political opponents, Yingluck now risks a backlash from farmers who say her government is months behind on subsidized rice payments at the heart of her Pheu Thai party’s populist platform. Yingluck also faces possible impeachment over the program, which the opposition alleges has benefited politicians more than rural communities.