THONGLOR — As Australian expat Lachlan Reid, 36, sat down with his Thai co-workers for dinner at the elevated casual Aubrey Cafe, the conversation immediately turned to Thailand’s political deadlock and the uncertain future of the once-dominant Pheu Thai Party. As Sorawit, Nanthira, Prakarn, and Jiraporn volleyed sharp takes about parliamentary arithmetic, constitutional amendments, and whether the Orange bloc would back Chaikasem or Anutin as interim PM, the Brisbane native realized with horror that he had no idea what any of them were talking about, despite having lived and worked in Thailand for the past seven years. “Shit, I knew I should’ve read that article on the Tangerine Party or whatever that my mum sent on WhatsApp,” thought Reid regrettably, hoping that by adding what he considered his best solemn nod, the gesture might convince everyone at his table he was seriously considering the long-term implications of a dissolved assembly. Desperate to maintain the illusion of political literacy, Reid mobilised a nuanced expression of a slow, yet deliberate furrow of the brow paired with a single, well-timed thumbstroke across his chin of apparent comprehension. He briefly considered murmuring “yeah, but only if the CDA’s fully elected,” but deemed it too risky after realising he couldn’t survive even a single follow-up question. At press time, sources confirmed no one had noticed Reid hadn’t spoken for the entire 90-minute dinner—though Nanthira did briefly wonder if he was having a stroke.
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