Thaksin Shinawatra, Thailand’s former prime minister, has made a dramatic return to the country after 17 years in self-exile. He arrived in Bangkok just hours before his party, Pheu Thai, is set to form a coalition government with members of the conservative military establishment. These are the same individuals who have worked to keep Thaksin and his family out of power for the past two decades.
Thaksin arrived at Don Mueang International Airport on Tuesday morning, where he was greeted by supporters wearing red shirts. The 74-year-old, who is facing multiple corruption charges, is expected to be taken to the Supreme Court and potentially detained and sent to jail on the same day that legislators vote on the appointment of a new prime minister from Pheu Thai.
It remains uncertain whether Thaksin, a billionaire who gained support from Thailand’s poor rural areas, will have to serve his sentence of up to 12 years in prison. Many believe he will seek a pardon from the Thai royal family, which still holds significant political power in the country.
“We’ve missed him,” said Boom Faidang, a 66-year-old Thaksin supporter who traveled to the airport to welcome him back. “He has done so many good things for Thai people and for the country.”
Thaksin served as Thailand’s prime minister from 2001 to 2006, winning several landslide victories in national elections before being overthrown in a military coup. He has been despised by the conservative elite that has controlled Thailand for most of the past two decades. Despite the continued influence of the populist movement he founded, Thaksin has avoided returning to his home country, except for a brief visit in 2008. Analysts suggest that his return has only become possible now due to Pheu Thai’s tenuous return to power.
Pheu Thai, an offshoot of Thaksin’s “red shirt” movement, received fewer votes than expected in the May election. The party lost ground in urban areas and even in Thaksin’s stronghold to Move Forward, a progressive and youth-oriented party that has consistently sought to limit the powers of the Thai monarchy and military. Initially, Pheu Thai formed an alliance with Move Forward against the pro-military parties that deposed Thaksin’s sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, in 2014. However, Pheu Thai abandoned this coalition and broke campaign promises after the military-appointed Senate twice blocked Move Forward’s prime ministerial candidate. Instead, Pheu Thai formed an alliance with military-backed groups.
The new 11-party coalition, which includes Thaksin’s daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra and many of his family’s rivals, is expected to vote for Srettha Thavisin, a real estate tycoon, to become the new prime minister. This decision would end months of turbulent political negotiations that have alienated Move Forward, despite their victory in the May election.
Supporters of Move Forward and some Pheu Thai followers argue that the new government ignores the demands of the people, who voted for an end to military rule. Thailand’s top generals, closely aligned with the monarchy, have suppressed criticism in the name of maintaining stability. They have used water cannons and arrested hundreds of young people during student-led protests in 2020. The military also changed the constitution to gain greater control over election results.
While the new leadership in Thailand may not be a “fully democratic” outcome, it is expected to be more effective than the outgoing military government in addressing the country’s challenges. These challenges include rising household debt, an aging population, increasing crime rates, and insecurity along the Thai-Myanmar border, according to Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a professor of political science at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.
Srettha, Pheu Thai’s prime ministerial candidate, holds a master’s degree in business administration from Claremont University in the United States. He has stated that his focus will be on stimulating Thailand’s struggling economy.
This article was reported by Tan from Singapore, with contributions from Regine Cabato in Manila.
How is Thaksin Shinawatra’s return to Thailand impacting the political landscape, particularly with regards to the coalition government formation?
Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister of Thailand, has made a dramatic comeback to the country after 17 years in self-imposed exile. His return comes as his political party, Pheu Thai, is set to form a coalition government with members of the conservative military establishment who have worked against Thaksin and his family for the past two decades.
Thaksin arrived in Bangkok at Don Mueang International Airport on Tuesday morning and received a warm welcome from his supporters wearing red shirts. However, the 74-year-old, who is facing numerous corruption charges, is expected to be taken to the Supreme Court, potentially detained, and sent to jail on the same day legislators vote on the appointment of a new prime minister from Pheu Thai.
It remains uncertain whether Thaksin, a billionaire who gained support from the rural poor in Thailand, will have to serve his sentence, which could be up to 12 years in prison. Many speculate that he will seek a pardon from the Thai royal family, given their significant political power in the country.
“We’ve missed him,” said Boom Faidang, a 66-year-old Thaksin supporter who traveled to the airport to welcome him back. “He has done so many good things for the Thai people and the country.”
Thaksin served as Thailand’s prime minister from 2001 to 2006, winning several landslide victories in national elections before being ousted in a military coup. He has been widely disliked by the conservative elite who have controlled Thailand for most of the past two decades. Despite the continued influence of the populist movement he founded, Thaksin has avoided returning to his home country, except for a brief visit in 2008. Analysts suggest that his return has only become possible now due to Pheu Thai’s precarious return to power.
Pheu Thai, an offshoot of Thaksin’s “red shirt” movement, received fewer votes than expected in the May election. The party lost ground in urban areas and even in Thaksin’s stronghold, with Move Forward, a progressive and youth-oriented party that seeks to limit the powers of the Thai monarchy and military, gaining popularity. Initially, Pheu Thai formed an alliance with Move Forward against the pro-military parties that deposed Thaksin’s sister.
