The 76-year-old billionaire could now return to the forefront of the Asian country’s politics
Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released from prison this morning, raising questions about his possible return to the spotlight of the Asian country’s politics.
The 76-year-old billionaire, who made his fortune in the telecommunications sector, had been serving a one-year prison sentence for corruption since last September. He will wear an electronic bracelet during his four months of probation. Upon his release this morning, Thaksin hugged several relatives waiting for him outside prison, as well as hundreds of supporters dressed in red, the traditional color of support for the former prime minister, some of whom shouted “We love Thaksin.”
His daughter, former prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, said Thursday, after a final visit to her father in prison, that she had not discussed politics with him, “only family.” The Shinawatra family dominated Thai political life for about two decades. Supported by rural populations, it has long been the sworn enemy of the pro-military and pro-monarchist elite, who saw its populism as a threat to the traditional social order. Thaksin was prime minister from 2001 to 2006, before being overthrown in a military coup and going into exile for about fifteen years.
Her younger sister Yingluck was prime minister from 2011 to 2014 before also being ousted by the military, and her daughter Paetongtarn was removed from office in August 2025 after just a year in office. Their Pheu Thai party suffered the worst electoral defeat in its history in February’s parliamentary elections, slipping to third place and raising questions about the future of Thaksin’s political dynasty.
However, its inclusion in conservative Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s governing coalition leaves open the possibility of a revival for the populist party.
