Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra Released on Parole

Bangkok. Former Prime Minister of Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra was released on parole from jail on Monday. 

After staying in the hospital for a long time and trying to evade punishment in jail, the 76-year-old Thaksin came out amidst a crowd of supporters eight months after the court ordered it. 

The influence of this businessman, who has dominated Thai politics for the last 25 years, has weakened somewhat recently due to his imprisonment and the historic defeat suffered by his own party, Pheu Thai, in the February elections. Appearing in a white loose shirt and with short hair while leaving Bangkok's Klong Prem prison, Thaksin hugged his daughter and political successor, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, and other family members. 

Paetongtarn was dismissed from the post of Prime Minister by the court just 10 days before Thaksin went to jail in August. Hundreds of supporters, wearing red clothes which are the identity of the party, who came to welcome him, chanted slogans saying 'We love Thaksin'. 

When asked by reporters how he was feeling, he raised his hands and said he felt 'light'. He joked, 'I was in hibernation, I don't remember anything now.'

Thaksin, who returned to his country in 2023 after 15 years of voluntary exile, was sentenced to eight years in jail for abuse of power and conflict of interest during his tenure as Prime Minister from 2001 to 2006. However, without spending a single night in jail, he was moved to the hospital's VIP ward citing heart and chest problems. 

Later, the King reduced his sentence to one year. After spending six months in the hospital, he was released on parole. However, the Supreme Court ruled that he and his doctors had prolonged their hospital stay with minor surgery and ordered him to serve the remaining time in jail. 

Political analyst Tipol Phakdeewanich says Thaksin's release could revive the Pheu Thai Party, which is a junior partner in the current coalition government. However, he advised proceeding cautiously, adding, 'It would be better for Thaksin to do politics from behind the scenes, but given his personality, the question is how long he will remain out of the spotlight.' 

Thaksin will have to wear an electronic ankle monitor until his sentence ends in September. Romanee Nakan, a 76-year-old supporter who came to welcome him, expressed the view that whatever Thaksin did was for the good of the people and he should never have been jailed.