Thai power broker on parole… pardoned the day after his 30-year-old daughter became prime minister

Returns to Politics and Likely to Assume the Role of ‘King’

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On March 14 (local time), former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra (74) walks down the street with his youngest daughter, Patongtan Shinawatra (37), in Bangkok, Thailand. Patongtan was elected Prime Minister in a vote in the House of Representatives on the 16th. [EPA = 연합뉴스]

In Thailand, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra (74) was pardoned a day after his youngest daughter, Patongtan Shinawatra (37), was elected Prime Minister.

According to Bloomberg News on the 17th (local time), former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, currently on parole, was included in the list of 50,000 individuals pardoned in celebration of the King’s birthday.

Thaksin was ousted in a military coup in 2006 and went into exile in 2008 after being indicted on charges of corruption and abuse of power. He was later sentenced to eight years in prison. He lived in exile for 15 years before returning to Thailand in August of last year, following the election of Setha Thaweesin from the Phua Thai Party, a pro-Thaksin party, as Prime Minister.

Upon his return, Thaksin was immediately imprisoned; however, he was transferred to a police hospital that night for treatment of high blood pressure and has remained hospitalized since. His sentence was later reduced to one year through a royal pardon, and he was paroled in February after serving six months in prison.

Thaksin’s parole was originally set to conclude on the 31st, but this pardon shortened his term by two weeks.

Now a free man, Thaksin is anticipated to exert significant influence, comparable to that of a “former king.”

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Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra [AP = 연합뉴스]

Thaksin was ousted following intense opposition from conservative military factions who viewed his policies as a threat to the monarchy, despite his popularity for advocating for the underprivileged. However, the political landscape shifted in May last year when the Forward Party (MFP), which promoted reforms to the monarchy, including a push to abolish the lese majeste law, secured a majority in the elections.

In response, pro-military parties hastily allied with the Phua Thai Party to form a coalition government that elected Setha Thaweesin, a close associate of Thaksin, as Prime Minister in August of last year. Former enemies became allies. The MFP was disbanded on the 7th following a Constitutional Court ruling that declared their efforts to revise the lese majeste law amounted to an attempt to overthrow the constitutional monarchy.

On the other hand, Thaksin’s daughter, Phae Thongtan, was elected Prime Minister the day before, winning a majority of votes as the sole candidate for the coalition government led by the Phua Thai Party in the House of Representatives. This followed the Constitutional Court’s ruling that Prime Minister Thawee Shinawatra’s appointment of Phichit Chuenban, a lawyer previously sentenced for involvement in a “bribery scandal,” was unconstitutional. Phae Thongtan is now the youngest prime minister in Thai history and the third member of the Thaksin family to take on the role, following former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra (2001-2006) and his younger sister Yingluck Shinawatra (2011-2014).

On the 18th, King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand approved Patongtan as the next prime minister within two days. With this confirmation, Patongtan has been recognized as the 31st prime minister and the youngest to hold the position, succeeding Prime Minister Setha Thaweesin, who resigned on the 14th following a Constitutional Court ruling against him.

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Thaksin Shinawatra Returns to Politics: The Emergence of a ‘King’ in Thai Governance

Returns to politics and likely to play the role of ‘king’

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Enlarge the photo

On March 14 (local time), former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra (74) walks down the street with his youngest daughter, Patongtan Shinawatra (37), in Bangkok, Thailand. Patongtan was elected Prime Minister in a vote in the House of Representatives on the 16th. [EPA = 연합뉴스]

In Thailand, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra (74) was pardoned a day after his youngest daughter, Patongtan Shinawatra (37), was elected Prime Minister.

According to Bloomberg News on the 17th (local time), former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is currently on parole, was included in the list of 50,000 people to be pardoned in celebration of the King’s birthday.

Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by a military coup in 2006, went into exile in 2008 after being indicted on charges of corruption and abuse of power. He was later sentenced to eight years in prison. After living in exile for 15 years, he returned to Thailand in August last year when Setha Thaweesin of the Phua Thai Party, a pro-Thaksin party, was elected Prime Minister.

Upon his return, Thaksin was immediately imprisoned but was transferred to a police hospital on the same night for treatment of high blood pressure and has been in the hospital ever since. His sentence was later reduced to one year via royal pardon, and he was paroled in February after serving six months in prison.

Notably, Thaksin’s parole period was originally scheduled to end on the 31st, but this pardon brought it forward by two weeks. Now a free man, Thaksin is expected to wield enormous influence, virtually akin to that of a “former king.”

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Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra [AP = 연합뉴스]

Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted after being heavily targeted by conservative forces in the military who saw his policies as a threat to the monarchy. Despite his popularity for supporting the underprivileged, the political landscape shifted in May last year when the Forward Party (MFP), advocating reforms to the monarchy and pushing for the abolition of the lese majeste law, became the largest party in the elections.

The pro-military parties quickly joined forces with the Phua Thai Party to establish a coalition government, electing Setha Thaweesin, a close associate of Thaksin, as Prime Minister in August last year. Remarkably, yesterday’s enemies transformed into today’s allies as the MFP faced dissolution following a Constitutional Court’s ruling equating their proposed reforms to an attempt to overthrow the constitutional monarchy.

Meanwhile, Thaksin Shinawatra’s daughter, Phae Thongtan, was elected as Prime Minister the day before the significant events. She won a majority vote as the sole candidate for the coalition government led by the Phua Thai Party in the House of Representatives vote.

This followed the Constitutional Court ruling deeming Prime Minister Thawee Shinawatra’s appointment of Phichit Chuenban, a lawyer involved in a bribery scandal, as unconstitutional. Phae Thongtan now stands as the youngest prime minister in Thai history and the third from the Thaksin family to serve, following her father Thaksin (2001-2006) and her aunt Yingluck Shinawatra (2011-2014).

On the 18th, King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand approved Patongtan as the next prime minister within just two days of her election. Following this approval, she was officially confirmed as the 31st prime minister, making history as the youngest prime minister ever, succeeding Prime Minister Setha Thaweesin, who stepped down on the 14th under the recent Constitutional Court ruling.

Impact of Thaksin’s Return on Thai Politics

Thaksin’s return to Thailand marks a significant shift in the political landscape. Having once been a polarizing figure due to his reforms and policies aimed at assisting the lower socioeconomic classes, his influence now intertwines with the emerging changes within the government.

The Rise of New Political Leadership

Patongtan’s ascension to power indicates a possible revival of Thaksin-era policies, poised to impact Thailand’s governance humanitarian orientation. Furthermore, her government is anticipated to face challenges from the remaining conservative factions and the military.

Benefits of Thaksin’s Influence on Governance

• **Economic Growth:** Thaksin’s previous tenure is often associated with robust economic policies aimed at uplifting the grassroots, potentially leading to similar strategies in the current landscape.
• **Social Welfare Initiatives:** His focus on healthcare and rural development could be revived, prioritizing social reforms that resonate with the populace.
• **Political Stability:** Thaksin’s experience could provide a stabilizing factor in the current tumultuous political environment, fostering dialogues between opposing sides.

Challenges Ahead for the New Administration

Despite the optimism surrounding Thaksin’s influence, several challenges loom in the coming months:

1. Political Division: The lingering divide between pro and anti-Thaksin factions could hinder enactment of significant policies.
2. Military Resistance: With pro-military parties still significant players in Thai politics, they may impede progressive reforms.
3. Pursuit of Corruption Allegations: Ongoing scrutiny of past allegations could affect Thaksin’s contemporary political maneuvers.

Conclusion

Thaksin Shinawatra’s unexpected return to influence following his daughter’s elevation signifies a historical cycle in Thailand’s governance. The path forward appears promising yet fraught with potential obstacles that could reshape the nation’s political identity.

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