Thailand’s Controversial Former PM Released from Jail
Thailand’s controversial former PM, Thaksin Shinawatra, has been released from prison in Bangkok at the age of 76. He was serving part of a one-year sentence for corruption and abuses of power during his terms as prime minister from 2001 to 2006. Upon release, Thaksin was fitted with an electronic ankle bracelet. His release has sparked widespread media speculation about the role he might still play in Thai politics, despite his party Pheu Thai’s insistence that he will remain in the background.
The Political Legacy of Thaksin Shinawatra
Thaksin Shinawatra has been a dominant figure in Thai politics for over two decades. From his initial rise to power in January 2001, the self-made billionaire sought to reshape Thailand, gaining both devoted supporters and fierce opponents. His political parties continued to win elections even after he was deposed by a coup in 2006. However, his ambition alarmed the powerful royalist establishment, leading to multiple court rulings against his allies, violent street clashes, and another coup in 2014.
Despite these challenges, Thaksin refused to step back. He continued to run his party from abroad and returned to Thailand in 2023 after what was seen as a ‘grand bargain’ with conservative opponents. His return allowed him to direct Pheu Thai once it was back in government. However, his recent imprisonment followed a Supreme Court ruling that the six months he spent in a police hospital after his return was a ruse to avoid serving his sentence.
Changing Political Landscape and Future Prospects
While Thaksin was in jail, Pheu Thai suffered its worst-ever result in the February general election, falling to third place behind the reformist People’s Party and the conservative Bhumjaithai party. The latter benefited from a surge of nationalist sentiment following a border conflict with Cambodia. As a result, Pheu Thai has become a junior coalition partner in the new government.
Political analyst Ken Lohatepanont noted that Thaksin emerges from prison to a very different political environment. Pheu Thai is now sidelined as a mid-sized party, and the party faces a significant challenge in deciding whether a public comeback for Thaksin would help or whether it should focus on newer generation leaders.
The collapse of the ‘grand bargain’ with royalist forces and the dismissal of Thaksin’s daughter, Paetongtarn, as prime minister candidate by the Constitutional Court highlight the ongoing mistrust between Thaksin and conservative forces. This mistrust appears insurmountable, and Thaksin is likely to be barred from holding a prominent political role again.
The past 25 years in Thailand have often been referred to as “the Thaksin era.” Given recent developments, that era is almost certainly over.
