Thailand's former prime minister departs nation prior to parliament deciding on leadership post
Thaksin Shinawatra, the former Prime Minister of Thailand who was ousted in a 2006 coup, is set to face a crucial Supreme Court verdict next week. This development comes after his return to Thailand in August 2023, following 15 years in exile.
Shinawatra, now 76 years old, was initially ordered to serve an eight-year jail term for historic graft and abuse of power charges. However, he was later pardoned due to health reasons. The sequence of events in his case, including his jail sentence, hospitalization, and subsequent pardon, has prompted a judicial probe into whether he received special treatment.
The judicial probe is not just about Shinawatra's guilt, but rather, it is investigating whether he benefitted from a prison early release scheme due to the sequence of events. This investigation has been instigated by the events surrounding his return to Thailand and subsequent pardon.
Meanwhile, Shinawatra's daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, was sacked by the Constitutional Court last Friday for an ethics breach. A vote for her successor is scheduled in Parliament this Friday. The conservative challenger, Anutin Charnvirakul, is expected to oust the family's Pheu Thai party in this vote. Charnvirakul won the parliamentary vote on Friday following the removal of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
Shinawatra plans to return to Thailand by no later than the 8th and intends to go to court in person upon his return. He also plans to visit friends in Dubai and meet respiratory and orthopaedic doctors during his stay.
The Supreme Court verdict next week may potentially result in Shinawatra being jailed, although his guilt is not the subject of the case. The verdict, set for September 9, could mark a significant turning point in Thailand's political landscape.
The Pheu Thai party has occupied the top office since the 2023 elections. However, the ousting of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and the impending verdict against her father could signal a shift in power away from the Shinawatra family.
As the political drama unfolds, Thailand waits with bated breath for the Supreme Court's decision. The investigation into Shinawatra's case and the upcoming vote for a successor to the Pheu Thai party in Parliament are set to shape the future of Thailand's political landscape.
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