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Factbox-Thailand's Polarising Ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra
  + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com   time to read: +4 min
(Reuters) - Thailand's billionaire former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released from detention on Sunday, enjoying freedom in his country for the first time since fleeing into exile nearly 16 years ago to avoid jail. - Thaksin ran several failed businesses with his wife before getting his break in the 1980s leasing computers to the police. In 2010, a court seized $1.4 billion worth of Shinawatra assets, concluding Thaksin had concealed his Shin Corp shareholdings and tailored policy to benefit his business. - Thaksin's sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, was also prime minister and suffered an almost identical fate as him. - Thaksin's youngest daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 37, is Pheu Thai party leader and eligible to become prime minister.
Persons: Thaksin Shinawatra, Chiang Mai, Thaksin, Yingluck Shinawatra, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Srettha Thavisin, Martin Petty, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Reuters, Eastern Kentucky University, Kentucky Fried, Thailand's, Shin Corporation, Shin Corp, English Premier League football, Fulham, Manchester City, Forbes, Thai Rak, Thai Rak Thai, People Power Party, Srettha Locations: Thai, Chiang, Kentucky, Singapore, Thailand, Liverpool, Dubai, Britain, Montenegro, Thai Rak Thai, Thai Rak, Bangkok
By Napat Wesshasartar and Athit PerawongmethaBANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's jailed billionaire former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was seen early on Sunday in a vehicle leaving a hospital where he has been in detention for the past six months, according to Reuters witnesses. Thaksin, 74, had been scheduled to be released on parole on Sunday, according to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. Thailand's best-known and most polarising premier, Thaksin has loomed large over politics for two decades, despite 15 years in self-imposed exile to avoid a jail sentence for abuse of power and conflicts of interest. Thaksin made a dramatic return from exile in August to cheering crowds and was taken to prison to serve an eight-year sentence. (Reporting by Napat Wesshasartar Napat Wesshasartar Athit Perawongmetha and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Nick Zieminski)
Persons: Napat Wesshasartar, Thaksin Shinawatra, Thaksin, Srettha Thavisin, Mercedes van, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Martin Petty, Nick Zieminski Locations: Athit, BANGKOK
CNN —Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released from detention on Sunday, having served six months in prison following his return to the kingdom after more than 15 years in self-imposed exile. His jail sentence was later reduced to one year after he submitted a request for a royal pardon. His release from prison reintroduces a towering and divisive figure to Thailand at a tense political time. Wearing a neck collar and arm sling, the former prime minister was seen leaving the Police General Hospital in Bangkok on Sunday in a black van alongside his daughters, Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Pintongta Shinawatra. He returned to his residence in Bangkok where a handwritten banner had been hung on the gate welcoming him home.
Persons: CNN —, Thaksin Shinawatra, Thaksin, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Pintongta Shinawatra Organizations: CNN, Thai Corrections Department, Police, Hospital Locations: Thailand, Bangkok
Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is expected to be arrested upon his return as he ends almost two decades of self-imposed exile, gestures while flanked by his son Panthongtae Shinawatra and daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra at Don Mueang airport in Bangkok, Thailand August 22, 2023. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBANGKOK, Aug 29 (Reuters) - The daughter of Thailand's jailed former premier Thaksin Shinawatra on Tuesday said any move to seek a royal pardon for her father would be entirely "up to him" and such a process would take time. "Drafting (a pardon request) takes time and it is up to him to choose the time and process," Paetongtarn told reporters. The long-awaited return of Thaksin coincided with ally Srettha Thavisin being elected prime minister in a parliamentary vote that same day. An anti-Thaksin group has lodged a complaint at the corrections department seeking to block Thaksin from seeking a royal pardon, arguing corruption cases should not be entitled to clemency.
Persons: Thaksin Shinawatra, Panthongtae Shinawatra, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Athit, Thailand's, Thaksin, Paetongtarn, poof, Srettha Thavisin, Pheu Thai, Chayut Setboonsarng, Martin Petty Organizations: Thai, REUTERS, Rights, Pheu Thai Party, Pheu, Thaksin, Thomson Locations: Don Mueang, Bangkok, Thailand, Rights BANGKOK
Protesters walk through smoke after setting fire to mock corpses during a protest at Pheu Thai Party headquarters in Bangkok on August 2, 2023. It formed a coalition with other like-minded parties, including runners up Pheu Thai. Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra flanked by his son Panthongtae Shinawatra and daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra at Don Mueang airport in Bangkok, Thailand August 22, 2023. “I want to be a prime minister who can make the difference,” Srettha previously told CNN. But with an 11-member coalition that includes bitter rivals, it’s unclear whether Srettha and Pheu Thai will be able to govern effectively.
Persons: staved, Srettha Thavisin, Thaksin Shinawatra, Thaksin, Thais, Valeria Mongelli, Hans Lucas, lese, Pita Limjaroenrat, Pita, Pheu, Pheu Thai, Thaksin’s, Shinatwatra, , Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Panthongtae Shinawatra, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Athit, ” Thitinan, Yingluck Shinawatra, , Strettha, Thailand’s King Vajiralongkorn, Srettha, Prayut Chan Organizations: CNN, Party, Pheu Thai Party, Reuters, Pheu, Senate, Chulalongkorn University . Former Thai, Thaksin, Manchester City Football Club, Thai, Facebook, Thai Corrections Department, Procter & Gamble, Bangkok Post Locations: Thailand, Bangkok, Senate, Thai, Pheu Thai, Don Mueang
The former prime minister then left on a police truck, headed to the Supreme Court. The Thaksin-backed Pheu Thai party, which came second in the May election, will nominate its choice for the country’s next leader Tuesday: real estate mogul Srettha Thavisin. Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra while flanked by his son Panthongtae Shinawatra and daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra at Don Mueang airport in Bangkok, Thailand on August 22. Pheu Thai Party leader Cholnan Srikaew said in a statement Monday that the coalition would not include Move Forward Party, which won the most votes in the election. In 2006, Thaksin was ousted and, facing a potential prison sentence over corruption charges, went into self-imposed exile.
Persons: Thaksin Shinawatra, Thaksin, Thaksin’s, Yingluck Shinawatra, Paetongtarn, Srettha Thavisin, Palang Pracharath, Prayut Chan, Yingluck, Panthongtae Shinawatra, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Athit, Thais, Cholnan Srikaew, , , Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Prayut, , “ We’ve, ” Thitinan Organizations: CNN, Manchester City Football Club, UN, Mueang International, Supreme, Thaksin, United Thai Nation Party, Thai, Thai Party, Party, National Institute of Development Administration, Reuters, Facebook, Institute of Security, Studies, Chulalongkorn University, Forward Party Locations: Thailand, New York, Singapore, Bangkok’s, Thai, Don Mueang, Bangkok
Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra looks on as he speaks to Reuters during an interview in Singapore February 23, 2016. Also scheduled for Tuesday is another parliamentary vote for prime minister, to be nominated by the Thaksin-backed Pheu Thai Party. Some analysts said Thaksin's return suggests Pheu Thai has reached a deal with political parties on forming a government after gaining support from military-backed parties. Pheu Thai, set to nominate real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin, needs the support of more than half the bicameral legislature, including the military-appointed Senate. The party on Thursday gained support from a rival military-backed party after a lawmaker from another military-backed party said they would support Pheu Thai in overcoming the impasse.
Persons: Thaksin Shinawatra, Edgar Su, Thaksin, Thaksin's, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Surachate Hakparn, Thanaporn Sriyakul, Srettha Thavisin, Orathai Sriring, William Mallard Organizations: Thai, Reuters, REUTERS, BANGKOK, Thaksin, Thai Party, Political Science Association of Kasetsart University, Thomson Locations: Singapore, Thailand, Muang, Pheu
Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul and Pheu Thai Party leader Chonlanan Srikaew greet each other after a press conference about forming an alliance between Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai party, in Bangkok, Thailand, August 7, 2023. Pheu Thai and its businesses allies could face similar resistance. Despite abandoning Move Forward, Pheu Thai is lobbying for the backing of its 150 lawmakers in a prime ministerial vote expected later this month. Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat said no decision had been made on whether to vote for a Pheu Thai government. "The path to government for Pheu Thai is now more about Thaksin than the people."
Persons: Anutin Charnvirakul, Chonlanan Srikaew, Athit, Cholnan Srikaew, Thai's Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Pita Limjaroenrat, Veerapat, Thaksin Shinawatra, Thai, Titipol Phakdeewanich, Panarat Thepgumpanat, Chayut, Panu, Martin Petty, Nick Macfie Organizations: Bhumjaithai, Pheu Thai Party, Pheu, REUTERS, Senate, Ubon Ratchathani University, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, BANGKOK, Ubon
Can Thailand's Pita succeed in a second PM vote?
  + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Martin Petty | ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +5 min
[1/4] Move Forward Party Leader Pita Limjaroenrat speaks during a voting session for a new prime minister at the parliament, in Bangkok, Thailand, July 13, 2023. An eight-party alliance has pledged its backing for Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat, despite his defeat in the first vote on July 13. Pita was 51 votes short of the 375 needed, as opponents closed ranks to deny him with a host of abstentions and no-shows. CAN PITA WIN THE SECOND VOTE? A separate concern for Move Forward is possible intervention by the Constitutional Court to suspend Pita from duty as a lawmaker.
Persons: Pita Limjaroenrat, Athit, Pita, PITA, Pheu, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Prawit Wongsuwan, Panarat Thepgumpanat, Panu, Martin Petty, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Senate, CAN, WIN, Constitutional, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, BANGKOK, Pheu
BANGKOK, July 15 (Reuters) - Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of Thailand's election winning Move Forward Party, on Saturday raised the prospect of a political ally leading the new government if he fails to become prime minister. "If it becomes clear that Move Forward Party cannot realistically lead government formation then I am... open to having the party that came second, which is Pheu Thai, to lead," Pita said. "All of Move Forward members of parliaments are ready to support Pheu Thai's prime minister candidates," he said. Pheu Thai holds 141 seats in the Lower House, 10 less than Move Forward. Pheu Thai leader Chonlanan Srikaew said on Friday his party will support Pita's bid to become prime minister.
Persons: Pita Limjaroenrat, Pita, Pheu, Srettha Thavisin, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck Shinawatra, Chonlanan Srikaew, Panu, Mike Harrison Organizations: Thomson Locations: BANGKOK, Thai, Lower
Thailand's Pita Limjaroenrat may get another shot at the country's prime minister job next week. But his path to potential power remains unclear, especially if the leader of the country's Move Forward Party does not budge from his election pledge to amend a law that prohibits criticism of the monarchy. Limjaroenrat fell 51 votes short of the majority he needed from the 749 members of Thailand's bicameral National Assembly for the top job in a first parliamentary vote on Thursday. Forty-two-year-old Pita, who attended Harvard Kennedy School, will be able to stand for prime minister if nominated again by his eight-party alliance. Otherwise, Pheu Thai — the second-largest party in the eight-party coalition with Move Forward — may also put forward its own candidate from among the three candidates the party had earlier surfaced.
Persons: Thailand's Pita Limjaroenrat, Limjaroenrat, Grace Lim, Pita, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thaksin Shinawatra, Srettha Thavisin, Chaikasem Nitisiri Organizations: National Assembly, Senate, Moody's Investors, Harvard Kennedy School Locations: Southeast Asia's
Sunday's election showcased an extraordinary surge by the progressive Move Forward party that almost had a clean sweep of the capital Bangkok, followed closely by the populist Pheu Thai party, which had been the dominant force in every Thai election this century. Between them the two opposition parties decimated parties with ties to the royalist army but it is far from certain the opposition will form the next government, with parliamentary rules drafted by the military after a 2014 coup skewed in favour of its allies. To govern, agreements may need to be struck with multiple camps, including rival parties and members of a junta-appointed Senate with a record of favouring conservative parties led by generals. [1/2] Move Forward Party leader and prime ministerial candidate, Pita Limjaroenrat, looks up at the crowd during the general election in Bangkok, Thailand, May 14, 2023. Pita said on Sunday he was ready to partner with Pheu Thai but Paetongtarn Shinawatra, one of her party's prime ministerial candidates, said it was too soon to discuss.
Investors are awaiting more tangible outcomes of Sunday's general election, after preliminary results showed the country's pro-democracy parties secured a strong majority. A calculation by Reuters based on data from the country' Election Commission suggests the anti-military Move Forward party, led by Thai businessman Pita Limjaroenrat, would win the most seats, followed by the Pheu Thai party. If confirmed, this would represent a resounding rejection of pro-military parties led by former prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, ending nine years of pro-military rule. The Pheu Thai party has put forward Paetongtarn Shinawatra — the daughter of former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra — as its candidate for prime minister, while Reuters reported that Limjaroenrat also has "set his sights set on being prime minister." First quarter GDPSeparately, Thailand's gross domestic product for the first quarter grew 2.7%% year-on-year, beating expectations of a 2.3% rise.
THITINAN PONGSUDHIRAK, CHULALONGKORN UNIVERSITY"The top two parties will be Pheu Thai and Move Forward. "Pheu Thai fought the wrong war, the populism war that it already won. That's the new battleground in Thai politics. KEN MATHIS LOHATEPANONT, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN"Since 2001, Pheu Thai has won the largest number of seats at every election comfortably. After two decades, this certainty of Thai politics has been overturned.
PoliticsThai prime ministerial candidates cast their votesPostedThai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and two of his rival candidates, Pita Limjaroenrat and Paetongtarn Shinawatra, cast their votes in Bangkok.
With 97 percent of the votes counted early Monday morning, the progressive Move Forward Party was neck and neck with the populist Pheu Thai Party. In most parliamentary systems, the two parties would form a new governing coalition and choose a prime minister. But under the rules of the current Thai system, written by the military after its 2014 coup, the junta will still play kingmaker. The election had widely been seen as an easy victory for Pheu Thai, the country’s largest opposition party founded by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Polls had showed that Mr. Thaksin’s youngest daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 36, was the leading choice for prime minister.
Record turnout projected as Thais vote in battle of old rivalries
  + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com   time to read: +2 min
A voter casts their vote into a ballot box at a polling station on May 14, 2023 in Bangkok, Thailand. Thais were forecast to vote in record numbers on Sunday in an election expected to deliver big gains for opposition forces, testing the resolve of a pro-military establishment at the heart of two decades of intermittent turmoil. Elsewhere in the capital, prime ministerial hopefuls for the ruling party and opposition groups cast their votes, including incumbent Prayuth Chan-ocha and Pheu Thai's Paetongtarn Shinawatra. "People need change," Paetongtarn said after casting her vote, expressing "high hopes" for a landslide victory. In 2006 the military toppled Thaksin, who fled into exile.
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha faces an uphill battle to retain power in Sunday's general election, with opposition parties including Pheu Thai and Move Forward surging in popularity, according to opinion polls. On the back of a bright red car, Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Srettha Thavisin - two prime ministerial candidates for Pheu Thai - waved to onlookers. "I would like to ask first time voters to choose Pheu Thai," Paetongtarn told reporters as she stepped off the vehicle. [1/7] Thailand's incumbent Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha greets supporters at the United Thai Nation Party's (Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party) rally event ahead of the upcoming general election, in Bangkok, Thailand, May 12, 2023. Across town, a truck carrying members of Prayuth's United Thai Nation party stopped occasionally as supporters took selfies and gave flowers.
[1/6] Electoral workers prepare ahead of the upcoming general election, in Bangkok, Thailand, May 13, 2023. The election again pits Pheu Thai's driving force, the billionaire Shinawatra family, against a nexus of old money, military and conservatives with influence over key institutions that have toppled three of the populist movement's four governments. We will change from a dictatorship to a democratically elected government," Paetongtarn told cheering crowds on Friday at Pheu Thai's final rally. The United Thai Nation of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who led the coup against Pheu Thai's last government, has pledged debt relief, cheaper electricity for low-income groups and subsidies for transport and crop harvesting. ($1 = 33.8500 baht)Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by William MallardOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Thailand’s election could be a lose-lose scenario
  + stars: | 2023-05-12 | by ( Anshuman Daga | ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +3 min
SINGAPORE, May 12 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Thailand’s elections on Sunday might return opposition parties to power for the first time since 2014, or alternatively deliver a stitched-up military-backed government. Assuming one of these opposition parties wins, it will need to control 376 seats out of the combined 500-seat House of Representatives and the 250-seat Senate to choose a prime minister. Pheu Thai claims it can lift annual economic growth to around 5% so long as is in power, which would be nearly double 2022’s low base. Higher incomes might ease Thailand’s household debt, which at 87% of GDP is the third-highest in Asia. HSBC analysts expect revenue at major Thai corporations to grow by only 2% next year – again, well behind neighbours – and Pheu Thai is mulling a 20% tax on private company profits, per a report in the Bangkok Post.
This time, Pheu Thai is polling strongly along with the progressive, youth-oriented, Move Forward party. 'LOOKING FOR A DEAL'But bringing her father home may ultimately be the deciding factor for Pheu Thai, and that would force it into a deal with the establishment. "Post election, Pheu Thai will be biding its time and looking for a deal. That's why I think the likelihood of Pheu Thai going with Move Forward is very slim." He said he could envision a deal that allowed Thaksin to return in exchange for minimal jail time and a promise not to run for office.
A Thai protester with a sign calling for equal workers' rights and a fair election at a Labor Day rally in Bangkok in 2023. Experts widely agree that pro-democracy groups are expected to perform strongly in light of deep-seated discontent with the current military-affiliated administration. Contenders can be divided into two categories: parties that support the pro-military establishment and a pro-democracy camp of opposition factions. Few details have been provided about funding, worrying economists who say those policies would weigh on already stretched public finances after significant fiscal support during the pandemic. Only the Move Forward party has campaigned on changing the defamation law, while Pheu Thai previously said it will consider discussing it in Parliament.
[1/2] FILE PHOTO-Pita Limjaroenrat, Move Forward Party's leader and prime ministerial candidate, reacts during an upcoming election campaign event in Bangkok, Thailand, April 22, 2023. Pita Limjaroenrat, 42, the charismatic leader of the Move Forward party, jumped ahead of Paetongtarn Shinawatra of the main opposition Pheu Thai, with 29.37% support versus her 27.55% in a countrywide survey by Nation media group. Reuters GraphicsBoth polls showed the pro-military Palang Pracharat party, the Democrats and Bhumjaithai - current coalition partners - trailing the opposition by a large margin. Most experts believe Pheu Thai will need to form an alliance to govern and Paetongtarn on Wednesday hinted it could partner with Move Forward and ruled out military-backed parties. Separately, a Super Poll survey on parties released on Friday of 14,332 people also showed Pheu Thai leading with 139 of 500 parliamentary seats, followed by Bhumjaithai with 112 seats, and Move Forward with 63 seats.
Her Pheu Thai Party is also leading in recent polls and has won every election since 2001, including two in landslides. If Pheu Thai can win a landslide and be government, we can make change straightaway." Asked about a Move Forward alliance, she said Pheu Thai would join "with parties that support our policies" and ruled out military-backed rivals. Paetongtarn's father Thaksin Shinawatra was prime minister for five years before he was ousted by the military in a 2006 coup. He didn't say he wants to be prime minister," she said.
BANGKOK, May 1 (Reuters) - Thailand's leading prime ministerial candidate, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, gave birth on Monday to a baby boy two weeks before elections in which she hopes to return to power the populist movement her father and aunt led before army coups ousted them. Paetongtarn, 36, announced the birth on her official Facebook and Instagram accounts with a photo of the newborn. Paetongtarn, who goes by the nickname Ung Ing, has been first or second in polls for voters' favourite prime ministerial candidate throughout the campaign for the May 14 election, trading places with Pita Limjaroenrat of the progressive opposition Move Forward Party. Prayuth, who became a civilian prime minister after 2019 elections, trailed in fourth place in a mid-April poll for favourite prime ministerial candidate with 13.72%. However, Prayuth may have help from the 250-seat upper house Senate, whose appointed members were approved by the military junta Prayuth led for five years.
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