Thailand’s former head of government pardoned: After coups, coups, exile and imprisonment, Thaksin finally returns home

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Never in Thailand’s history has a politician won an election with a larger majority. He had been put away, accused, exiled and convicted. Even successor governments in his name, according to his ruling sister Yingluck Shinawatra: All were robbed of their electoral victories with constitutional coups. Thailand’s powerful, shadowy rulers in the background have been trying, and trying, their own loyalists for almost two decades.

Now the spell seems broken. Former archenemies shake hands. For years he was considered a traitor to the nation. He has been free since this morning: after more than fifteen years in exile, the populist and controversial ex-Prime Minister of Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra (74), has been released on parole in Bangkok.

The suspected seriously ill patient left the Police General Hospital in central Bangkok with his children early on Sunday. He had been treated there since his return to Thailand last August – or as everyone in Thailand knows, there prisoner Thaksin had enjoyed special treatment under the highest level of secrecy until he was considered for a royal pardon.

At home with a neck support

Thaksin wore a neck brace when he left the hospital with his children in a limousine at 6:09 a.m. and arrived at his long-abandoned home half an hour later. It was teeming with supporters and reporters. Photos show an impassive-looking Thaksin who cannot put a smile on his face.

It is, of course, a long-standing illusion that Thaksin has now been released on parole. Eight years in prison for alleged corruption and abuse of power have now evaporated – ostensibly because of his old age. But Thaksin’s party is in power and heads the government – but only because last year’s real election winners were forced out of power by judges. The anti-royal attitude of the victorious opposition was a wind in the wheels of the palace establishment.

Country now with two heads of government?

Now Thailand will de facto have two prime ministers – the official Srettha Thavisin (62) of the coalition-leading Pheu Thai (“Party for Thais”). And then Thaksin, the real strongman from Pheu Thai, who controlled everything even in exile. Thaksin is the big ‘phu yai’, ‘powerful man’, in the background. Prime Minister Srettha has already indicated that he will probably offer Thaksin a government position.

Thailand’s de facto legitimate rulers – the Progress Party (MFP), which celebrated a surprisingly clear election victory last year – are even threatened with dissolution of the party, while the conservative circles of the establishment continue to consolidate their power.

This is possible because the coup generals drafted a constitution that gives great power to unelected senators. The hand-picked, army-loyal senators also have a say in the choice of the prime minister. Even a landslide victory for the opposition is doomed to failure from the start.

Finally, Swiss of your choice

As the “SonntagsZeitung” recently reported, Thaksin spent the last time in Switzerland before returning to Thailand. As a former prime minister who was still convicted at the time, he moved to Crans-Montana in Valais.

Genevan politician Eric Stauffer, 59, who describes himself only as a “family friend” of the Shinawatra clan, helped him. Swiss authorities had granted Thaksin a residence permit – despite a conviction and arrest warrant in Thailand, which was seen as politically motivated by most people in the kingdom.

After many years on the run, Thaksin’s exile saga is now over. The most controversial person in Thailand’s recent history appears to have been rehabilitated – for now.

Source: Blick