Thaksin Shinawatra, former Prime Minister, returns to Thailand in anticipation of a pending court decision
Thailand has a new prime minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, who was elected on Friday following the fall of the Pheu Thai government. Anutin, the chairman of the Bhumjaithai Party, assumed office as the third prime minister in two years, leading a fragile minority government with the support of the People's Party.
The fall of the Pheu Thai government came after it lost a vote in parliament to a rival party. This event marked a significant shift in Thailand's political landscape.
Meanwhile, Thailand's former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, has returned to the country after being in self-imposed exile for 15 years. Thaksin's return to Thailand on Monday was confirmed by Pheu Thai official Chayika Wongnapachant via a text message to Reuters.
Thaksin served an eight-year sentence for conflicts of interest and abuse of power while prime minister from 2001 to 2006. In February 2024, his sentence was commuted to a year by the king, and he was released on parole after six months of being detained in hospital. However, a Supreme Court verdict regarding Thaksin is scheduled for the next day, which could potentially send him to prison.
Thaksin has maintained a high profile as the driving force behind Pheu Thai and the former government. However, his return to Thailand was met with speculation about his possible exile to avoid potential imprisonment. Thaksin spent a few hours in jail before being transferred to a hospital on medical grounds.
The new prime minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, is no stranger to political turmoil. He trounced the candidate of the Pheu Thai party in a parliamentary vote to become Thailand's third prime minister in two years. Anutin's Bhumjaithai Party is known for its populist conservative stance.
The political landscape in Thailand continues to evolve, and the outcome of the Supreme Court verdict regarding Thaksin Shinawatra could have significant implications for the country's future. If judges decide that the six months Thaksin spent at a VIP wing of a hospital in 2023 does not count as time served, he could potentially be imprisoned.
This news article will be updated as more information becomes available. Stay tuned for further developments in Thailand's political scene.
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