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Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra arrives at Don Mueang Airport after returning from self-imposed exile in Bangkok, Thailand, on August 22, 2023.
bangkok, thailand
CNN
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Former Thai prime minister imprisoned Thaksin Shinawatra Just six months after his dramatic return to the kingdom, he has been granted parole and will soon be released from custody, according to Thailand's justice minister.
The announcement brings to an end an unusual decades-long political saga that sees one of Thailand's most controversial politicians return to everyday life.
Thaksin is the head of a prominent political dynasty and former owner of English Premier League soccer club Manchester City, who served as prime minister from 2001 until he was ousted in a military coup in 2006 while in New York. .
He returned to Thailand on August 22 after 15 years in self-imposed exile and was sentenced to eight years in prison for conflicts of interest, abuse of power and corruption during his time in power. Mr. Thaksin was convicted in absentia during his exile.
It soon became clear that the returning politician was not going to spend much time in prison. Just a week later, Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn commuted Thaksin's prison sentence. From 8 years old to 1 year old After the billionaire submitted an application for a royal pardon.
On Tuesday, Thailand's Justice Minister Thawi Sodson confirmed to CNN that Thaksin was one of 930 prisoners granted parole this month.
Mr. Thaksin, 74, was eligible for parole because he falls under the category of inmates who are over 70 years old or suffer from serious chronic illnesses. Furthermore, the minister said he has already served more than half of his sentence.
The minister said the Department of Corrections was coordinating Mr. Thaksin's release date.
Thaksin was taken to hospital after his sentencing last year due to chest tightness, high blood pressure and low oxygen levels, Thailand's Department of Corrections said.
Although Mr. Thaksin was immensely popular with Thailand's rural and working-class people throughout his time in power, his policies were hated by wealthy elites and conservatives, who labeled him a dangerous and corrupt populist. was accused of being.
Because Thaksin was popular with large sections of society, he was able to create a political juggernaut that has dominated Thai politics in one form or another for the past two decades.
Despite being physically absent from Thailand, Thaksin continued to have great influence on Thai politics and remained at the center of the country's turbulent and often violent political situation.
Until last year, pro-Thaksin parties had won the most seats in every election since 2001.
Even now, the Thai Contribution Party, the latest party in the powerful Shinawatra political dynasty founded by Thaksin, is in power after forming a ruling coalition with its former military rival after elections in May 2023.
In August, just hours after Thaksin's return, his party's candidate Stretta Thabisin was sworn in as Thailand's 30th prime minister.
Some analysts believe that, given the court's conviction and indictment, Mr. Thaksin may have to pay for a reduced prison sentence, more leniency, or the possibility of a pardon. I believe that he may have made an agreement with the faction to return home.
Mr. Thaksin reportedly denied such an arrangement.
But his release marks the re-emergence of a huge figure with a disturbing influence on Thailand at a politically tense time.
At the same time, Thaksin no longer proves a similar threat to the established order compared to a new generation of opposition politicians who have won overwhelming support among Thailand's young voters and are now facing serious legal difficulties themselves. Not yet.
The progressive party Move Forward, which won the most votes in the 2023 election, was blocked from forming a government because of its radical platform, which included reforming the kingdom's monarchy, a major taboo.
In a Thai court last month. It was ruled that the party must suspend its election campaign. Move Forward and its leaders, including former prime ministerial candidate Pita Rimjaroonrat, have called for changes to the country's notoriously strict royal defamation laws, accusing them of trying to overthrow the constitutional monarchy through their actions. .
A petition has been submitted to the Election Commission asking for the dissolution of the party, which remains extremely popular among the country's youth.
In contrast, the Thai Contribution Party made clear during its election campaign that it had no intention of changing the lese majeste law, which has frequently been invoked against those who criticize both the monarchy and the political system.
last week, Reuters reported Thaksin could be charged with lese majeste under Thailand's insult law, but it is unclear whether prosecutors will proceed with charges.
Under the law, anyone can file a complaint, and authorities are obligated to investigate.
In January, Thailand's Court of Appeal on Thursday increased a man's prison sentence to a record 50 years for insulting the monarchy. The harshest penalty in history imposed on the basis of lese majeste According to legal rights groups: