Thailand's Thaksin lauds 'disruptors' Move Forward for election triumph

FILE PHOTO: Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra speaks to Reuters during an interview in Singapore February 23, 2016. REUTERS/Edgar Su

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's influential former premier Thaksin Shinawatra on Tuesday hailed the election-winning Move Forward Party as disruptors who mastered social media, and said aging army generals central to years of turmoil should retire with dignity.

The self-exiled tycoon, a towering figure in Thai politics whose family is the driving force behind the dominant Pheu Thai party, said Move Forward proved social media and user-generated content (UGC) can triumph over big-spending campaigns and vote-buying.