Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister of , abruptly left the country Thursday, ahead of a court ruling that could send him to prison.
His departure came just hours before a parliamentary vote for the next prime minister, following the , from office over an ethics violation.
The Supreme Court is expected to deliver a verdict Tuesday that could result in Thaksin’s imprisonment.
Thaksin’s legal woes
Thaksin told officials he was flying to Singapore for medical reasons, but his jet diverted mid-flight and landed in Dubai, where he previously lived in exile.
On Friday morning, he took to social media to say he would return to attend the hearing on Tuesday.
Thaksin served as Thailand’s prime minister until a 2006 coup ousted him while he was abroad. He briefly returned in 2008 but fled again before a corruption verdict. After years in exile, he came back in 2023 to serve an eight-year sentence, later reduced to one year by royal pardon. He was held in a hospital suite, sparking claims of special treatment.
The Supreme Court will rule Tuesday on whether the Corrections Department acted legally in granting him early release. While his guilt is not the subject of the case, some analysts say the verdict could still result in jail time.
Shinawatra family’s political power declines
Since the 2023 elections, the Pheu Thai coalition, linked to the powerful Shinawatra family, has held Thailand’s top office.
But a Thai court , from office last Friday.
The Constitutional Court’s verdict came nearly two months after her suspension. She faced charges stemming from , which sparked public backlash and raised doubts about her competence and loyalty.
The political turmoil has positioned construction magnate and Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul as the frontrunner in Friday’s vote. He has gained support from several opposition groups.
Anutin once backed the Shinawatra-aligned Pheu Thai coalition but distanced himself this summer, reportedly in response to Paetongtarn’s conduct.
Edited by: Sean Sinico
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