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Former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra Released From Prison on Parole

Following his party’s worst electoral result in more than two decades, it remains to be seen if the veteran politician can mount another political comeback.

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra walked free from prison today on parole, after serving a total of 243 days in prison connected to an old corruption and abuse of power case.

According to a report by Reuters, the 76-year-old walked out ​of Klong Prem Central Prison in Bangkok at around 7:40 a.m., wearing a white shirt, blue pants, and Nike sneakers, and with his hair cut short. Thaksin was immediately embraced ⁠by close family members, including his daughter and recent prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

Hundreds of “red shirt” supporters also turned out to greet the former leader, and mobbed his Mercedes-Maybach as it attempted to drive him away from the prison. Thaksin later reported to the probation office, where he was reportedly fitted with an electronic monitoring bracelet, which he will be required to wear during his four-month probation period. While on parole, Khaosod English reported, Thaksin will also be prohibited from traveling outside his residential area without permission, and must report to probation officers each month.

Thaksin’s parole was approved in late April by the Ministry of Justice’s parole committee, which said that Thaksin had met the various requirements for early release, including having served two-thirds of his one-year prison sentence.

Thaksin returned to Thailand in August 2023 after more than 15 years in self-exile, on the same day that his Pheu Thai Party formed a new government. Thaksin’s return was part of a grand bargain with his foes in the Thai conservative establishment, the purpose of which was to block the progressive Move Forward Party (MFP) from forming government, after its surprise victory at the general election the previous May.

Thaksin then faced an eight-year prison sentence for abuse of authority and conflict of interest dating back to his tenure as prime minister between 2001 and 2006, which was subsequently commuted to one year by King Vajiralongkorn. However, Thaksin then went on to serve the sentence in a VIP suite at a police hospital, due to a number of supposed health issues, and as a result, spent barely any time in prison. After complaints by royalist petitioners, the Supreme Court ruled that this was unlawful and did not qualify as time served, ordering him to return to prison. Thaksin began his sentence on September 9.

So large has Thaksin loomed over Thai politics since the turn of the century that the news of his pending parole has inevitably prompted speculation about his return to the political fray. There is little doubt that the former PM will try to reassert the influence that he has exercised in Thailand since his initial barnstorming election victory in 2001, just as he did after his return to Thailand in 2023. While Pheu Thai says that he will remain in the background, “Thaksin seems incapable of taking a back seat, whatever he may say about spending more time........

© The Diplomat