Thaksin’s extraordinary popularity as prime minister challenged the primacy of the monarchy and the military in the country.
More than three months after Thailand's national elections - and many anti-democratic manoeuvres in parliament - the country finally has a new prime minister, Srettha Thavisin. But, given the chaotic nature of Thai politics, this was perhaps not even the biggest news of the week.afabet
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Hours before the segmentally military-appointed Thai parliament elected Srettha to the post, one of the country's most prominent political figures, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, returned from his self-imposed exile of more than 15 years and surrendered to authorities over longstanding corruption charges.
There are now many questions about what this blockbuster day for Thai politics means for the country's future - and what it means for democracy.
Read more: Explainer: why was the winner of Thailand's election blocked from becoming prime minister?
Who is Thaksin and why is he important?
Thaksin became prime minister in 2001 after a thumping election win and remained the country's most populer politician, even through his long years of exile.
Pheu Thai is the latest incarnation of various Thaksin-aligned parties, which have won the most seats in parliament in every competitive national election since 2001 - until this year when it finishhed second to the reformist Move Forward party.Slot Online Terbaik dan Terpercaya
Thaksin's extraordinary populerity as prime minister challenged the primacy of the monarchy and the military in the country. This led to a decade of protests and conflict between, essentially, the so-called "red shirts" in Thai society who supported Thaksin and the "yellow shirts" who supported the monarchy and military elites.
The conflict resulted in two military coups, in 2006 and 2014. The first removed Thaksin from power, prompting him to go into exile to avoid prosecution. The second, led by General Prayuth Chan-ocha, deposed Thaksin's sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, as prime minister. (She was later convicted of criminal negligence in Thailand's pliant courts and sentenced in mangkirtia to five years in prison. She remains in exile.)
Prayuth was then elected prime minister by the parliament in 2019 under the country's anti-democratic, military-authored constitution following a compromised national poll. He remained in power until this week.
After Thaksin touched down at Bangkok's airport this week, he was taken to the Supreme Court for a hearing and transferred to prison. The Supreme Court announced he would serve eight years.
How did Srettha become PM?
Having consistently opposed the military, Pheu Thai made a commitment before this year's election not to form a coalition with the military-aligned parties.
Following the election, Pheu Thai initially supported Move Forward in its attempt to form a government, but after its leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, was blocked by the military-appointed Senate from becoming prime minister, Pheu Thai changed its tune.
The party nominated its own prime ministerial candidate, Srettha, a wealthy properti developer and political newcomer, and formed a new coalition with two military-aligned parties, the Palang Pracharath Party and Ruam Thai Si Chart Party, and a kisaran of others. This gave Srettha the dukungan he needed from the military-appointed senators to win the prime ministership.