Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra recently announced that he has postponed his long-awaited return to Thailand. The delay comes as he awaits a breakthrough in the post-election political impasse, which could potentially lead to his family's party assuming leadership in a coalition government. Thaksin, a 74-year-old billionaire, won two elections in the past but was ousted in a 2006 military coup. Since then, he has been living in self-exile for 15 years, expressing his desire to return home despite facing what he believes are politically motivated criminal charges.
On Saturday, Thaksin took to Twitter, recently rebranded as X, to share that he has deferred his return due to a medical appointment. He clarified that the delay would not exceed two weeks. Initially, his daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who was a candidate for the Pheu Thai party, announced that Thaksin would arrive in Thailand on August 10.
Thaksin's potential return to Thailand has been a contentious issue, particularly for the pro-military and royalist establishment in the country. His presence has the potential to further escalate the already tense political situation. Thailand currently faces a political deadlock, as the military-dominated Senate has blocked the leader of the Move Forward Party from assuming the position of prime minister, despite the party securing the most parliamentary seats in the May election.
The Thaksin-backed Pheu Thai party has been striving to form a government, and they have nominated property tycoon Srettha Thavisin as their prime minister candidate. However, the House speaker has postponed the vote for the prime minister until after a constitutional court ruling on August 16.
Recent speculation has suggested the possibility of a coalition deal between Thaksin and the elite that would involve pro-military parties. The postponement of his return may indicate that such a deal has not been finalized.
Thaksin's influence in Thai politics has been significant since 2001, with parties linked to him dominating the political landscape. However, military coups and court rulings have led to the removal of two prime ministers associated with Thaksin's camp. Despite living in self-exile, mainly residing in Dubai since 2008, Thaksin has remained active in politics, addressing his supporters on the Clubhouse social media platform using the alias Tony Woodsome.
During his time abroad, Thaksin faced legal challenges, resulting in convictions in four criminal cases. One of these cases has now exceeded the statute of limitations. However, he still faces a cumulative sentence of 10 years for the remaining three cases, and there is an ongoing investigation into another case. Thaksin maintains that the charges against him are politically motivated.
As Thailand continues to grapple with a complex political landscape, the potential return of Thaksin Shinawatra remains a crucial and contentious issue with implications for the country's stability and future direction.