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☆ Thailand's Paroled Former PM Thaksin Meets Prosecutor on Royal Insult Case
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-18 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's newly paroled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has met with a prosecutor over a royal insult complaint stemming from a 2015 interview, the attorney general's office said on Monday. The meeting relates to a lese majeste case brought against Thaksin in 2016, in which the attorney general's office is now considering new evidence. Violations of the law are punishable by up to 15 years in jail.

Persons: Thaksin Shinawatra, Thaksin Locations: BANGKOK

☆ Thailand's Ex-PM Thaksin Seen Leaving Hospital on Day of Parole
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

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

☆ Thaksin Shinawatra: Ousted Thai PM's Life in Politics
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's controversial billionaire former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released on parole on Sunday after serving six months in detention. 1998Thaksin founds the Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thais) party. In September, the military launches a coup against Thaksin while he is overseas, citing the need to end the protests. 2011New elections are won in a landslide by another new pro-Thaksin party, Pheu Thai. Thaksin applies for a royal pardon and his eight-year jail term is commuted to a year by the king.

Persons: Thaksin Shinawatra, Thaksin, Love Thais, Thais, Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin's, Srettha Thavisin, Nick Macfie, Martin Petty Organizations: Thai Rak Thai, Thaksin, People's Alliance for Democracy, Shin Corporation, Temasek, English Premier League, Manchester City, Power Party, United Front for Democracy, Democrat Party Locations: BANGKOK, Thai, Singapore, Thai Rak Thai, Britain, Bangkok, Thailand

☆ 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

☆ Jailed Former Thai Premier Thaksin to Be Released on Feb 18, PM Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Jailed former Thai Premier Thaksin Shinawatra will be released on Feb. 18, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on Saturday. Thaksin has been in hospital detention since August, after making a dramatic homcoming from living abroad for 15 years in self-exile to avoid prison for a conflict of interest. He had his eight-year jail term commuted to a year by the King after his return and has served six months in hospital detention due to an undisclosed health condition. Feb. 18 is the first day of his parole eligibility. (Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um; Editing by Stephen Coates)

Persons: Premier Thaksin, Srettha Thavisin, Thaksin, King, Panu, Stephen Coates Organizations: Premier Locations: BANGKOK

☆ Thaksin Shinawatra: Thailand’s jailed former prime minister to be freed
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Helen Regan | Kocha Olarn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Bangkok, Thailand CNN —Thailand’s jailed former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will soon walk free from detention after his parole was approved, according to Thailand’s justice minister, just six months after his dramatic return to the kingdom. The announcement caps an extraordinary decades-long political saga that will see the return of one of Thailand’s most controversial political figures to everyday life. On Tuesday, Thailand’s Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong confirmed to CNN Thaksin is one of 930 inmates who have been granted parole this month. The party’s candidate Strettha Thavisin became Thailand’s 30th prime minister in August, just hours after Thaksin’s return to the country. Last week, Reuters reported that Thaksin faces possible lese majeste charges under Thailand’s royal insult law, but it’s unclear whether prosecutors will move forward with the complaint.

Persons: Thailand CNN — Thailand’s, Thaksin Shinawatra, Thaksin, Maha Vajiralongkorn, Tawee Sodsong, Thaksin —, Strettha Thavisin, Thaksin’s, Pita Limjaroenrat Organizations: Thailand CNN, Manchester City, Thailand’s, CNN Thaksin, The Corrections Department, Thai Corrections Department, Reuters Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, New York, Thai

☆ Convicted Thai Ex-PM Thaksin Facing Possible Royal Insults Charge
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's attorney general is considering prosecuting convicted former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra over an alleged insult of the powerful monarchy, an official said on Tuesday, just weeks away from his possible release on parole. The lese-majeste law is among the world's strictest, with each perceived offence punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The influential Thaksin, prime minister from 2001-2006, made a dramatic homecoming last August from 15 years in self-imposed exile to serve an eight-year jail sentence for abuse of power, later commuted to one year by the king. Prayut Petchkhun, spokesperson for the attorney-general's office, told reporters the seven-year delay in acting on the royal insults complaint was because Thaksin had been abroad. Thailand current government is backed by the Shinawatra family, with Thaksin's return coinciding with ally and real estate mogul Srettha Thavisin becoming prime minister that same day.

Persons: Thaksin Shinawatra, Thaksin's, Thaksin, Prayut Petchkhun, Prayut, Srettha Thavisin, Panu, Martin Petty Organizations: Thaksin Locations: BANGKOK, Thai, South Korea, Thailand

☆ Pita Limjaroenrat: Thai court dismisses media shares case against popular progressive politician
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Thailand’s Constitutional Court dismissed a case against Pita Limjaroenrat, 43, that alleged he violated election rules by running for office while holding shares in a media company – the long-defunct broadcaster iTV. Thai law bans members of parliament from owning or holding shares in media companies. Ahead of Wednesday’s verdict, Pita expressed confidence outside the court in Bangkok. Move Forward won the most seats and the largest share of the popular vote in the May election. And most recently, Move Forward’s predecessor, the Future Forward Party, won the third most seats in the 2019 election.

Persons: Pita Limjaroenrat, Pita, ”, “, Thais, turfing, Srettha Thavisin, Samak Sundaravej, Thaksin Shinawatra, – Organizations: Thailand CNN, Constitutional, iTV, Party, Thai Stock Exchange, CNN, National Institute of Development Administration, Reuters, Lawmakers, Forward Party Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, “

☆ Billionaire politicians have become 'shockingly common' around the world, new study finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Robert Frank | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

More than 11% of the world's more than 2,000 billionaires have run for election or become politicians, according to a study highlighting the growing power and influence of the super-wealthy. "Billionaire politicians are a shockingly common phenomenon," the study said. Outside the U.S., billionaire politicians are even more common. Terry Gou, the Taiwanese billionaire and founder of Foxconn, is running for president of Taiwan. Of course, billionaires wield even more political power through their (often secret) donations to support candidates, parties and super PACs.

Persons: Donald Trump, Terry Gou, Vivek Ramaswamy, Doug Burgum, Michael Bloomberg, Tom Steyer, Billionaire Rick Caruso, J.B, Pritzker, Andrej Babiš, Silvio Berlusconi, Bidzina Ivanishvili, Najib Mikati, Sebastián, Thaksin, Phil Ruffin, Larry Ellison, Nelson Peltz, Richard Uihlein, Jeffrey Yass, Stanley Druckenmiller, Cliff Asness, David Tepper, Bruce Kovner Organizations: Wisconsin Valley Science, Technology, Northwestern University, Democratic, Los Angeles, Tax Fairness, Billionaire Locations: Wisconsin, Mount Pleasant , Wisconsin, U.S, Illinois, Taiwan, Czech Republic, Italy, Georgia, Lebanon, Chile, Thailand

☆ Thailand's new prime minister boosts optimism, but his populist policies pose fiscal risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Nyshka Chandran | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Srettha Thavisin, Thailand's prime minister, arrives at the Thai Parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. Srettha, Pheu Thai's choice for leader, was appointed prime minister on Aug. 22 — the same day that former prime minister and Pheu Thai founder Thaksin Shinawatra returned to Thailand after 15 years of self-exile. watch nowThe prime minister also pledged to relieve the country's debt problems. "PM Srettha will slowly implement Pheu Thai's populist economic policies as he has to meet public expectations," said Dusadeeisariyakul. Other experts warned against overthinking the fiscal damage since many of Pheu Thai's populist pledges may not materialize.

Persons: Srettha, Valeria Mongelli, Srettha Thavisin, Pheu, Thaksin Shinawatra, Thaksin's, Pimrapaat Dusadeeisariyakul, Friedrich Naumann, Thaksin, Stratfor, Fitch, Teerasak Siripant Organizations: Thai, Bloomberg, Getty, Pracharat Party, United Thai Nation Party, Bhumjathai Party, Friedrich, Friedrich Naumann Foundation, Fitch, Bower Group Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Thai

☆ Former Thai PM Thaksin eligible for parole in February - official
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Panarat Thepgumpanat | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

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, waves at Don Mueang airport in Bangkok, Thailand August 22, 2023. While abroad, Thaksin was found guilty in absentia in three cases involving abuse of power, conflict of interest and malfeasance. There was speculation that Thaksin reached some deal with his old foes, after the pro-military parties gave the Pheu Thai candidate Srettha their backing to form a new government. On his first night in Thailand, Thaksin was transferred to a police hospital with chest pains and high blood pressure where is currently being treated. "After serving six months of his sentence, Thaksin will be eligible for parole for prisoners older than 70 or those who are ill," Corrections Department Deputy Director General Sitthi Sutivong, told Reuters.

Persons: Thaksin Shinawatra, Athit, Thaksin, Thailand's, Srettha Thavisin, Srettha, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Sitthi Sutivong, Panarat Thepgumpanat, Chayut Setboonsarng, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Thai, REUTERS, Rights, Corrections, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Don Mueang, Bangkok, Thailand, Rights BANGKOK, Thai

REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBANGKOK, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn endorsed a new cabinet, including real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin as the country’s new prime minister and finance minister, according to a Royal gazette published on Saturday, months after the May elections. Srettha's Pheu Thai party, backed by the billionaire Shinawatra family, will oversee defence, transport, commerce, health and the foreign ministry portfolios. The second-place Pheu Thai broke off an alliance with Move Forward and brought on rival parties aligned with army generals that ousted Shinawatra-linked parties in 2006 and 2014 coups. Thaksin and the Pheu Thai party say that is not the case. The new cabinet has Pheu Thai controlling ministries overseeing the economy ministries, which will be crucial in implementing its policies, including a 10,000 baht ($285.63)handout in the form of digital currency.

Persons: Pheu, Thailand's, Athit, Maha Vajiralongkorn, Srettha Thavisin, Srettha's, Thaksin Shinawatra, Thaksin, Bhumjaithai, Srettha, Chayut Setboonsarng, Miral Fahmy, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Pheu, Conservative, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Rights BANGKOK

Reviving Thailand's economy will be one of the biggest tasks for political newcomer Srettha, who became prime minister last month following prolonged uncertainty after a May election. On the day of the vote, Pheu Thai figurehead Thaksin Shinawatra returned to Thailand in a dramatic homecoming after living abroad for 15 years in self-exile to avoid an 8-year prison sentence. Srettha's rapid ascent to power, Thaksin's smooth return and a coalition between Pheu Thai and former rivals fuelled speculation about an agreement between Thaksin and his foes among the country's powerful conservative and royalist army. Thaksin and the Pheu Thai party say that is not the case. The Pheu Thai will control key economic ministries, which will be crucial in implementing its policies, including a 10,000 baht ($285.63)handout in the form of digital currency.

Persons: Pheu, Thailand's, Athit, Srettha Thavisin, Srettha, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Thaksin Shinawatra, Thaksin, Bhumjaithai, Chayut Setboonsarng, Miral Fahmy, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Pheu, Conservative, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Rights 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, waves at Don Mueang airport in Bangkok, Thailand August 22, 2023. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBANGKOK, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Thailand's king has commuted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's eight-year prison sentence to one year, the royal gazette said on Friday, a day after the billionaire submitted a request for pardon. His return overshadowed a vote in parliament that installed political ally Srettha Thavisin of the Shinawatra-backed Pheu Thai party, as prime minister. "Thais should accept and not criticise this outcome because it could be considered a violation of royal power," he said. Thailand's strict royal insult law shields the monarchy from criticism, carrying a prison sentence of up to 15 years.

Persons: Thaksin Shinawatra, Athit, Thaksin Shinawatra's, Thaksin, Srettha Thavisin, Thaksin's, Winyat Chatmontri, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Thais, Chayut Setboonsarng, Panarat, Panu, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Thai, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Don Mueang, Bangkok, Thailand, Rights BANGKOK

☆ Thai king reduces former PM Thaksin's prison sentence to one year
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Thailand's king has commuted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's eight-year prison sentence to one year, the royal gazette said on Friday, a day after the billionaire submitted a request for pardon. He arrived on a private jet and was transferred to prison to serve an eight-year sentence. On his first night, he was moved to a police hospital over chest pains and high blood pressure. On Thursday he submitted a request for a royal pardon. Thaksin "was a prime minister, has done good for the country and people and is loyal to the monarchy," the royal gazette said on Friday.

Persons: Thaksin Shinawatra's, Thaksin Locations: Thailand

CNN —Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has submitted a request for a royal pardon, the outgoing justice minister said, just over a week after his dramatic return to the country from more than 15 years in self-exile. Thaksin, the head of a famed political dynasty, was prime minister from 2001 until he was ousted in a military coup in 2006. Outgoing Justice Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam confirmed to reporters Thursday that he had received Thaksin’s letter requesting a royal pardon from King Maha Vajiralongkorn. It is unclear how long the application process for a royal pardon will take. In Thailand, prisoners can request a royal pardon through the justice minister, who passes the application to the prime minister and then on the the King for final approval.

Persons: Thaksin Shinawatra, Thaksin, Wissanu Krea, ngam, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Thailand’s, ”, Srettha, Pheu, Pheu Thai’s, Thaksin’s, Yingluck Shinawatra, King, Prayut Chan Organizations: CNN, Former, Thai Corrections Department Locations: Former Thai, 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, waves at Don Mueang airport in Bangkok, Thailand August 22, 2023. Thaksin, Thailand's most famous politician, made a dramatic homecoming last week after 15 years abroad where he lived in self-exile to avoid prison. A representative of the 74-year-old Thaksin declined to comment when asked by Reuters about his pardon request. A request for royal pardon must be submitted through the corrections department to the justice minister. If a royal pardon is not granted, Thaksin will have to wait two years to submit another request.

Persons: Thaksin Shinawatra, Athit, Wissanu Krea, ngam, Thaksin, Thailand's, Srettha, Prayuth Cha, Wissanu, Chayut Setboonsarng, Panarat, Panu, Martin Petty, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Thai, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Don Mueang, Bangkok, Thailand, Rights 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

☆ Health of Thailand's billionaire ex-PM Thaksin still a concern, doctor says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBANGKOK, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Thailand's billionaire former premier Thaksin Shinawatra was still being treated in hospital on Friday and his condition remained a concern, a senior doctor said, three days after his historic return from self-exile. The Pheu Thai Party that Thaksin founded will lead the next government. Rumours have swirled that his return could be part of a secret agreement with his rivals, which he denies. Tul has asked for physicians from outside of the hospital to examine Thaksin also. "All the rooms at the police hospital have this view," said Soponrat, the doctor at the hospital.

Persons: Thaksin Shinawatra, Athit, Thaksin, Srettha Thavisin, Tul Sittisomwong, Tul, Chayut Setboonsarng, Martin Petty Organizations: Thai, REUTERS, Rights, Thai Party, Thaksin, Thomson Locations: Don Mueang, Bangkok, Thailand, Rights BANGKOK, Dubai, Britain

☆ Thai PM Srettha discusses overcoming divisions with former coup leader
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Napat Wesshasartar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] Thailand's new Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin meets with caretaker former Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha at the government house in Bangkok, Thailand August 24, 2023. Government House/Handouts via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsBANGKOK, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin discussed overcoming political divisions with predecessor Prayuth Chan-ocha on Thursday, in his first meeting as premier as he prepares to form a cabinet from a crowded 11-party alliance that includes fierce rivals. Srettha sailed through a parliamentary vote to become premier on Tuesday and will head a tricky coalition that includes parties backed by the military, which has repeatedly manoeuvred to topple governments led by his Pheu Thai Party. Thursday's meeting underscores a fragile detente in Thai politics, with Prayuth the architect of a 2014 coup against the last Pheu Thai government as chief of the ultra-royalist army. He and Pheu Thai have denied the existence of a deal with their rivals in the military and conservative establishment.

Persons: Srettha Thavisin, Prayuth Chan, ocha, Srettha, Prayuth, Pheu, Thaksin Shinawatra, Thaksin, Chayut Setboonsarng, Martin Petty Organizations: Government, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Thai, Thai Party, Pheu, Media, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Rights BANGKOK, Thai

[1/4] Thailand's new Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin meets with caretaker former Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha at the government house in Bangkok, Thailand August 24, 2023. Srettha sailed through a parliamentary vote to become premier on Tuesday and will head a tricky coalition that includes parties backed by a royalist military that has repeatedly manoeuvred against his Pheu Thai Party. His meeting with the outgoing premier and former army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha underscores a fragile detente in Thai politics, with Prayuth the architect of a 2014 coup against the last Pheu Thai government. Thaksin and Pheu Thai have denied the existence of a deal with their rivals in the military and conservative establishment. Prayuth, who has a testy relationship with the Shinawatra family, told Srettha healing rifts was important.

Persons: Srettha Thavisin, Prayuth Chan, Srettha, Prayuth, Pheu, Thaksin Shinawatra, Thaksin, Chayut Setboonsarng, Martin Petty, William Maclean Organizations: Government, REUTERS Acquire, Thai, Pheu Thai Party, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, BANGKOK, Thai

☆ A new PM and a fugitive's return: here's what Thailand's political future holds
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

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, waves at Don Mueang airport in Bangkok, Thailand August 22, 2023. RThe return of Thailand's former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra after years of self-exile could mark the end of a chapter in the country's politics, even as some analysts believe he will still be pulling some political strings — albeit from behind. The founder of Pheu Thai party and widely seen as its de facto leader, Thaksin returned to Thailand on Tuesday after 15 years in exile, and was sentenced to eight years in prison upon his return. But he will be the key person driving Pheu Thai Party behind the scenes," said Kasem Prunratanamala, head of Thailand research at CGS-CIMB. Pheu Thai is the latest iteration of his old party Thai Rak Thai after several before were disbanded by the courts.

Persons: Thaksin Shinawatra, Thaksin, Srettha Thavisin, Kasem Prunratanamala Organizations: Thai, Chulalongkorn University's Institute of Security, International Studies, CNBC, Thai Party, CGS, Thai Rak Thai Locations: Don Mueang, Bangkok, Thailand, Thai, Pheu, Thai Rak

☆ Thailand's jailed former Prime Minister Thaksin hospitalized after return from exile
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra (C), son Panthongtae (L) and daughter Pinthongta (R) greet supporters after his return to Thailand at the private jet terminal at Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok. Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was moved to hospital overnight, officials said on Wednesday, over concern about his heart and high blood pressure on his first night in jail following his historic return from self-exile. Thaksin made his homecoming on Tuesday and was escorted to jail in dramatic scenes that stole the spotlight from political ally Srettha Thavisin, who was elected prime minister in a parliamentary vote later in the day. The Pheu Thai Party's Srettha was confirmed as prime minister having received royal endorsement, a parliament official said on Wednesday. Police said Thaksin was hospitalized because the prison was unable to guarantee he would get the right care.

Persons: Thaksin Shinawatra, Panthongtae, Pinthongta, Thaksin, Pheu, Srettha Thavisin, Srettha, General Prachuab Wongsuk Organizations: Thai, Don Mueang, Reuters, Corrections Department, Wednesday . Police, National Police Locations: Thailand, Don, Bangkok

☆ Thailand's jailed ex-PM Thaksin hospitalised after return from exile
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Panarat Thepgumpanat | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

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, pays his respects to a portrait of Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida at Don Mueang airport in Bangkok, Thailand August 22, 2023. The latest condition of 74-year-old Thaksin, the billionaire founder of the populist juggernaut Pheu Thai, was not clear on Wednesday and his representatives did not immediately respond to a request from Reuters for comment. The Pheu Thai Party's Srettha was confirmed as prime minister having received royal endorsement, a parliament official said on Wednesday. Police said Thaksin was hospitalised because the prison was unable to guarantee he would get the right care. Thaksin and Pheu Thai have denied that.

Persons: Thaksin Shinawatra, Thailand's, Maha Vajiralongkorn, Suthida, Athit, Thaksin, Srettha, Pheu, Srettha Thavisin, General Prachuab Wongsuk, Ayuth Sintoppant, Panarat Thepgumpanat, Panu, Martin Petty, Michael Perry, Robert Birsel Organizations: Thai, REUTERS, Reuters, Corrections Department, Wednesday . Police, National Police, Supreme, Thomson Locations: Don Mueang, Bangkok, Thailand, BANGKOK

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