Post by : Shakul

Former Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released from a Bangkok prison on Monday after serving eight months of a one-year sentence linked to corruption and abuse of power charges. His release marked another dramatic chapter in the political journey of one of Thailand’s most influential and controversial leaders, whose political career has deeply divided the country for more than two decades.

A large crowd of supporters and political allies gathered outside Klong Prem Central Prison early in the morning to welcome the 76-year-old billionaire politician. Many supporters waved banners, carried flowers and chanted slogans in support of Thaksin as he walked out of the prison gates. He appeared smiling and emotional while greeting his followers and family members who had arrived to receive him after his release on parole.

Among those present were his children, including former Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Thaksin hugged his family members before leaving the prison premises in a car convoy. After reaching his residence in western Bangkok, he briefly greeted waiting supporters and joked with reporters by saying he had been in “hibernation” and could not remember much. Despite media attention, he avoided making any major political statement after his release.

Thaksin Shinawatra remains one of the most influential political figures in Thailand’s modern history. A former telecommunications businessman, he founded his own political party in 1998 and became prime minister in 2001. He was the first elected Thai prime minister to complete a full four-year term in office. His government introduced several popular welfare policies, including low-cost healthcare schemes and development projects for rural communities, which earned him strong support from poorer regions of Thailand.

However, his growing political influence and leadership style also created strong opposition among Thailand’s royalist groups, military leaders and urban elites. In 2006, he was removed from power in a military coup while he was overseas. Following the coup, Thailand witnessed years of political instability, protests and deep social divisions. Thaksin spent many years living in self-imposed exile abroad, claiming that legal cases against him were politically motivated.

Thaksin returned to Thailand in 2023 and was immediately sentenced in connection with corruption and abuse of power cases. He had originally received an eight-year prison sentence, but the punishment was later reduced to one year by Maha Vajiralongkorn. For health reasons, he was initially allowed to stay in a hospital facility instead of prison. However, after criticism from opponents who accused authorities of giving him special treatment, Thailand’s Supreme Court ordered him back to prison in 2025.

Thai authorities recently approved his parole after reviewing the cases of more than 900 eligible prisoners. Officials cited his age, good behavior and low risk of repeating the offense as reasons for granting his release. Under parole conditions, Thaksin must remain at his Bangkok residence for four months, wear an electronic monitoring device and regularly report to probation officers. His release is expected to once again influence Thailand’s political landscape, where his family and supporters continue to remain highly active.

#world news #Thailand News #Politics #GeoPolitics