Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is set to return to Thailand on Tuesday, as revealed by his youngest daughter Paetongtarn “Ung Ing” Shinawatra on social platforms earlier today.
“On Tueday of Aug 22 at 9am, I will be at Don Mueang (airport) to welcome my father Thaksin,” expressed Ms Paetongtarn, a prime ministerial nominee of the Pheu Thai Party, sharing on both her Instagram and X, previously named Twitter.
She also shared that her father’s scheduled return to Thailand was merely postponed, not cancelled, emphasizing that her statement was not baseless.
For Thaksin’s 74th birthday celebration on July 26, Ms Paetongtarn had shared that her father would land at Don Mueang airport on Aug 10.
His potential return is in sync with the scheduled prime ministerial election on August 22. Pheu Thai, in the process of building a coalition, is looking to propose former real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin as their top candidate.
Jatuporn Prompan, an earlier leader of the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship and a known detractor of Thaksin, played down the latest buzz about Thaksin’s reappearance after a 17-year voluntary exile.
“I’d love to see him come back so that we can move on to address national issues. But given the political situation, his timing doesn’t make sense,” he voiced.
Anusorn Iamsa-ard, a representative from Pheu Thai, asserted that Thaksin’s return isn’t connected to the formation of the government coalition. He emphasized that the prior leader is free to return whenever he wishes.
In 2008, Thaksin departed from Thailand shortly before being found guilty by the Supreme Court for aiding his spouse, Khunying Potjaman Na Pombejra, in acquiring prime property in the Ratchadaphisek district at a discount rate during his time as Prime Minister.
Thaksin disclosed on X (previously known as Twitter) his initial plans of returning to Thailand by August 10. However, medical examinations have postponed this by two weeks.
His daughter, Paetongtarn, who is also a prime ministerial candidate for the Pheu Thai Party, journeyed to Dubai earlier in the week to accompany him to an eye specialist.
Thaksin is facing a total of 10 years of imprisonment from three cases where he was tried and convicted in his absence by the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division designated for Political Office Holders.
